Rhenium Sulfide Nanoparticles as a Biosafe Spectral CT Contrast Agent for Gastrointestinal Tract Imaging and Tumor Theranostics in vivo.

Abstract

Spectral CT imaging as a novel imaging technique shows promising prospects in accurate diagnosis of various diseases. However, clinical iodinated contrast agents suffer from poor signal-to-noise ratio, and emerging heavy metal-based CT contrast agents arouses great biosafety concern. Herein, we show the fabrication of rhenium sulfide (ReS2) nanoparticles, a clinic radiotherapy sensitizer, as a biosafe spectral CT contrast agent for gastrointestinal tract imaging and tumor theranostics in vivo by teaching old drugs new tricks. The ReS2 nanoparticles were fabricated in a one-pot facile way at room temperature, and exhibited sub-10 nm size, favorable monodispersity, admirable aqueous solubility and strong X-ray attenuation capability. More importantly, the proposed nanoparticles own outstanding spectral CT imaging ability and undoubted biosafety as a clinic therapeutic agent. Besides, the ReS2 nanoparticles possess appealing photothermal performance due to their intense near-infrared absorption. The proposed nanoagent not only guarantees obvious contrast enhancement in gastrointestinal tract spectral CT imaging in vivo, but also allows effective CT imaging-guided tumor photothermal therapy. The proposed teaching old drugs new tricks strategy shortens the time and cuts the cost required for clinical application of nanoagents based on existing clinical toxicology testing and trial results, and lays down a low-cost, time-saving and energy-saving way for the development of multifunctional nanoagents toward clinical applications.