Large-scale and facile synthesis of biocompatible Yb-based nanoparticles as a contrast agent for in vivo X-ray...

X-ray computed tomography (CT), an efficient non-invasive clinical technique, usually provides high-resolution 3D structure details of tissues in early disease diagnosis. Here, we report a high-performance CT imaging platform based on a monodispersed Yb-based nanoparticulate contrast agent. The well-prepared nanoprobes presented excellent in vitro and in vivo performances in the CT imaging, very low cytotoxicity and no detectable tissue damage in one month. More significantly, compared with routinely used Iobitridol in clinic, our Yb-based CT contrast agents provided much more enhanced contrast at a clinical 120 kVp voltage. Additionally, these nanoparticulate contrast agent could be excreted mainly via feces and urine, indicating the total elimination from the animal bodies and more potential for further biomedical applications.