magnetic gold core shell nanoparticles price

To employ nanoparticles in molecular imaging, a suitable targeting ligand should be conjugated onto the surface of the nanoparticles. Since gold nanoparticles and tantalum oxide nanoparticles have higher X-ray attenuation coefficient than iodinated molecules, they have been developed as CT contrast agents. Semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots (QDs)) and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been used as fluorescent probes in optical imaging due to their high quantum yield and excellent photostability compared with organic dyes. Representatively, iron oxide nanoparticles have been applied as contrast agents for MRI, and their contrast effects have been improved by varying the size and composition of the nanoparticles. Indeed, these nanostructured materials have a long history of use as contrast agents in various imaging modalities and drug delivery vehicles. Nanoparticle generally refers to a particle with a size ranging from 1 to 100 nm. Among them, nanoparticles emerged as powerful tools for molecular imaging due to their intrinsic unique magnetic or optical properties, which allows their applications to various imaging modalities, and due to long circulation time, which is advantageous for targeted delivery. Owing to recent development of targeted contrast agents, including nanoparticles, iodinated molecules, Gd chelates and fluorescent dyes, specific biomarkers can be imaged using the conventional imaging modalities. To date, many researchers have reported breakthrough results in molecular imaging using nanoparticles to address these obstacles. Therefore, a probe with high sensitivity is required for successful imaging. In addition, there are several intrinsic limitations of imaging modalities, including poor sensitivity (for MRI and CT), low spatial resolution (for PET), and limited penetration depth (for fluorescence imaging). However, although molecular imaging has enormous potential, the concentration of most target molecules is very low. Thus, molecular imaging helps diagnosis of various diseases, prediction of their prognosis and decision on suitable treatment. Furthermore, owing to the non-invasiveness of molecular imaging, these processes can be monitored in real-time manner. The cellular functions and corresponding molecular processes could be visualized by molecular imaging. However, recent development in contrast agents and imaging techniques allows MRI and CT to be used in molecular imaging. The other group includes positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission CT (SPECT) and optical imaging, which can provide functional or molecular information.

The first group includes medical imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound imaging, which can provide anatomical information. It has traditionally been categorized into two groups.

Molecular imaging, which refers to quantitative, non-invasive and repetitive imaging of targeted biomolecules and monitoring of related biological processes in living subjects, has recently attracted much attention of many researchers and clinicians in various fields.

Magnetic gold core shell nanoparticles price