Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
  • 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, No. 126 Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA
  • 4 School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Masonic Medical Research Institute, Utica, NY, USA
  • 5 School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: heyshoo@cau.ac.kr
  • 6 School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dhha@cau.ac.kr
Drug Discov Today, 2021 01;26(1):94-105.
PMID: 33130336 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.10.020

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have garnered much attention as contrast agents for computerized tomography (CT) because of their facile synthesis and surface functionalization, in addition to their significant X-ray attenuation and minimal cytotoxicity. Cell labeling using AuNPs and tracking of the labeled cells using CT has become a time-efficient and cost-effective method. Actively targeted AuNPs can enhance CT contrast and sensitivity, and further reduce the radiation dosage needed during CT imaging. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art use of AuNPs in CT for cell tracking, including the precautionary steps necessary for their use and the difficulty in translating the process into clinical use.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.