PEGylated Terbium-Based Nanorods as Multimodal Bioimaging Contrast Agents

Diagnostic imaging strongly relies on the use of contrast agents (CAs). In general terms, current CAs present undesirable side effects that encourage researchers and pharmaceutical companies to continually search for safer more versatile alternatives. Here, we describe synthesis characterization terbium-based nanorods (TbNRs) as a potential alternative traditional magnetic resonance (MRI) X-ray computed tomography (CT). The paramagnetism high atomic number Tb provide TbNRs with both relaxivity attenuation capabilities. After surface functionalization polyethylene glycol (PEG)-derived ligand, showed colloidal stability in physiological media. Additionally, toxicity studies conducted cell cultures zebrafish embryos demonstrated safety as-synthesized TbNRs, thus supporting their CAs. Lastly, vivo experiments mice produce remarkable enhancement MRI CT.