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Bismuth Nanoparticles As Medical X-Ray Contrast Agents: Synthesis, Characterization And Applications, Anna Laura Brown

Dissertations and Theses

Bismuth based nanomaterials have recently attracted attention as heavy element X-ray contrast agents because of the high atomic number and predicted biological compatibility of bismuth. Nanoparticle X-ray contrast agents may enable a number of novel medical imaging applications, including blood pool and site-directed imaging. However these hypothetical applications are hindered by lack of suitable synthetic methods for production of imaging agents. This dissertation describes synthesis of a novel class of bismuth nanoparticles that are aqueously stabilized using poly and monosaccharides. These particles are synthesized using highly biologically compatible reagents and are oxidatively stable in water and in moderately basic buffered …