Green sonochemical synthesis platinum nanoparticles as a novel contrast agent for computed tomography

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) imaging can be enhanced with the use of contrast agents. However, the conventionally used clinical small-molecule agents (Omnipaque) are encumbered by an array of constraints that include potentially toxic and unwanted side effects. Therefore, this study presents a facile plant-assisted synthesis of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) that employs ultrasonic irradiation to improve the Hounsfield (HU) values for CT imaging. This “one-step one-pot”, eco-friendly and simple approach produced highly stable, biocompatible and ultrasmall Pt NPs colloidal with a mean diameter of 3.8 nm. The extract from Prosopis farcta (P. farcta) fruits served as both a reducing agent and stabilizer. The cell viability test demonstrated that HEK-293 cells remained viable after being subjected to high concentrations of Pt NPs. The X-ray attenuation of the as-synthesized Pt NPs (HU = 355) exceeds those of commercial NPs and conventionally prepared NPs. Thus, this research gives new insights into the use of plants to prepare novel contrast agents for molecular imaging. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd