NANOPARTICLE-BASED IMAGING AGENTS FOR X-RAY/COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND METHODS FOR MAKING SAME

摘要

The present invention is generally directed to core/shell nanoparticles, wherein such core/shell nanoparticles comprise a nanoparticle core and a nan oshell disposed about the nanoparticle core such that, in the aggregate, the y form a core/shell nanoparticle that is operable for use as an imaging agen t in X-ray/computed tomography (CT). Typically, such core/shell nanoparticle -based X-ray CT imaging agents further comprise a targeting species for targ eting the imaging agent to diseased sites.