Erbium-Based Perfusion Contrast Agent for Small-Animal Microvessel Imaging

Authors

Justin J. Tse
P. Joy Dunmore-Buyze
Maria Drangova, Western University
David W. Holdsworth, Western University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Journal

Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging

Volume

2017

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1155/2017/7368384

Abstract

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) facilitates the visualization and quantification of contrast-enhanced microvessels within intact tissue specimens, but conventional preclinical vascular contrast agents may be inadequate near dense tissue (such as bone). Typical lead-based contrast agents do not exhibit optimal X-ray absorption properties when used with X-ray tube potentials below 90 kilo-electron volts (keV). We have developed a high-atomic number lanthanide (erbium) contrast agent, with a K-edge at 57.5 keV. This approach optimizes X-ray absorption in the output spectral band of conventional microfocal spot X-ray tubes. Erbium oxide nanoparticles (nominal diameter < 50 nm) suspended in a two-part silicone elastomer produce a perfusable fluid with viscosity of 19.2 mPa-s. Ultrasonic cavitation was used to reduce aggregate sizes to 4000 Hounsfield units, and perfusion of vessels < 10  μ m in diameter was demonstrated in kidney glomeruli. The described new contrast agent facilitated the visualization and quantification of vessel density and microarchitecture, even adjacent to dense bone. Erbium’s K-edge makes this contrast agent ideally suited for both single- and dual-energy micro-CT, expanding potential preclinical research applications in models of musculoskeletal, oncological, cardiovascular, and neurovascular diseases.

Notes

Copyright © 2017 Justin J. Tse et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The article as published is at:

Justin J. Tse, P. Joy Dunmore-Buyze, Maria Drangova, David W. Holdsworth, "Erbium-Based Perfusion Contrast Agent for Small-Animal Microvessel Imaging", Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging, vol. 2017, Article ID 7368384, 10 pages, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7368384

Corrigendum published at:

Justin J. Tse, P. Joy Dunmore-Buyze, Maria Drangova, David W. Holdsworth, "Corrigendum to “Erbium-Based Perfusion Contrast Agent for Small-Animal Microvessel Imaging”", Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging, vol. 2018, Article ID 2165693, 2 pages, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2165693

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.