Modified Bismuth Nanoparticles: A New Targeted Nanoprobe For Computed Tomography Imaging of Cancer

Objective: recently, development of multifunctional contrast agent for effective targeted molecular computed tomography (ct) imaging of cancer cells stays a major problem. in this study, we explain the ability of triptorelin peptide-targeted multifunctional bismuth nanoparticles (bi2s3@ bsa-triptorelin nps) for molecular ct imaging. materials and methods: in this experimental study, the formed nanocomplex of bi2s3@ bsa-triptorelin nps was characterized using different methods. the mtt cytotoxicity test was performed to determine the appropriate concentration of nanoparticles in the mcf-7 cells. the x-ray attenuation intensity and contrast to noise ratio (cnr) of targeted and non-targeted nanoparticles were measured at the concentrations of 25, 50, and 75 μg/ml and x-ray tube voltages of 90, 120 and 140 kvp. results: we showed that the formed bi2s3@ bsa-triptorelin nps with a bi core size of approximately ~8.6 nm are nontoxic in a given concentration (0-200 μg/ml). at 90, 120, and 140 tube potentials (kvp), the x-ray attenuation of targeted cells were 1.35, 1.36, and 1.33-times, respectively, more than non-targeted mcf-7cells at the concentration of 75 μg/ml. the cnr values at 90, 120, and 140 kvp tube potentials were 171.5, 153.8 and 146.3 c/ϭ, respectively. conclusion: these findings propose that the diagnostic nanocomplex of bi2s3@ bsa-triptorelin nps can be applied as a good contrast medium for molecular ct techniques.