Self-fabricated dextran-coated gold nanoparticles using pyrenyl dextran as a reducible stabilizer and their application as CT imaging agents for atherosclerosis

A facile method to produce dextran-coated gold nanoparticles (DGNPs) for atherosclerosis detection using computed tomography (CT) imaging is developed. DGNPs are prepared using only pyrenyl dextran as a reducible stabilizer chemically conjugated with hydroxyl groups of dextran and carboxyl groups of pyrenyl molecules, which can reduce gold ions to gold particles and stably form gold nanoparticles in the aqueous phase. The physical properties of DGNPs can be controlled by the reaction time. DGNPs, where gold particles were stably covered with dextran, exhibit targeting ability against inflammatory macrophages with the help of strong interactions between dextran on their surface and scavenger receptors in the macrophages with good biocompatibility without cell damage. From the in vivo studies, DGNPs can be used to accurately detect atherosclerosis via CT imaging.