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Published on: March 22, 2020
Fabrication of Au@Ag core-shell NPs as enhanced CT contrast agents with broad antibacterial properties
1Institute of Materials Engineering, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210093, PR China; Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China.
Abstract:
Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) integrating both antibacterial and X-ray attenuation capabilities were facilely synthesized in aqueous solution. These NPs modified with methoxy-PEG-SH (m-PEG) on the surface rendered them favorable dispersity and stability in water, resulting in enhancement of their blood circulation time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) results confirmed the core-shell structure of m-PEG-Au@Ag NPs. The m-PEG-Au@Ag NPs showed low cytotoxicity and strong X-ray absorption potency in vitro. Further in vivo study showed that as-synthesized NPs offered a pronounced contrast and prolonged their circulation time in the blood stream with negligible toxic effect in vivo. Besides, m-PEG-Au@Ag NPs had significant bacteriostatic effect toward common bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as demonstrated by broth dilution assay. Given their low-cytotoxicity and high CT attenuation efficacy, m-PEG-Au@Ag NPs had a promising potential for use as CT enhancing and antibacterial agents.
