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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis
Published on: July 10, 2021
CT imaging of myocardial scar burden with CNA35-conjugated gold nanoparticles
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Management of patients suffering from myocardial infarction (MI) is based on the extent of coronary artery disease and myocardial scar burden. We have developed a potentially clinically-useful X-ray molecular imaging contrast agent based on gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) functionalized with collagen-binding adhesion protein 35 (CNA35) with the capabilities of achieving prolonged blood pool enhancement for vascular imaging of the coronary arteries and specific targeting of collagen within myocardial scar. At a concentration of ~ 45 mg Au/ml, AuNPs maintained a stable blood pool enhancement at 142-160 HU within an hour of intravenous administration. At 6 hours, specific signal enhancement was detected in the myocardium scar in rats injected with CNA35-AuNPs, but not with control AuNPs or in control animals. In conclusion, CNA35-AuNPs may be considered as a CT contrast agent for both vascular imaging of coronary artery disease and molecular imaging of myocardial scar in the heart.
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