| 초록 |
To date, diverse imaging modalities have been used to investigate morphological and functional information inside the body. To provide accurate and comprehensive information, the combination of two or more imaging modalities has attracted attention in recent years. We developed Gd2O3 nanoparticle-loaded CaCO3 mineralized nanoparticles (Gd2O3-MNPs) that can generate CO2 bubbles and trigger the release of Gd2O3 nanoparticles in response to tumoral acidic pH capable of contrast agents for US and MR imaging, respectively. At physiological pH (7.4), the Gd2O3-MNPs did not show any noticeable US contrast signals. In contrast, at tumoral pH (6.4), there were strong echogenic signals due to CO2 bubbles generation by the dissolution of CaCO3 minerals. In addition, at pH 6.4, the Gd2O3-MNPs released Gd2O3 nanoparticles into the aqueous environment, resulting in a strong MR contrast enhancement. These Gd2O3-MNPs might serve as promising dual-modalities for US and MR imaging of various tumors. |
