Volume 2 • Issue 2 • 1000128 J Biomed Eng Med Devic, an open access journal Open Access Research Article Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Devices J o u r n a l o f B i o m e d ic a l E n g in e e rin g & M e d i c a l D e v i c e s ISSN: 2475-7586 Al-Neami et al., J Biomed Eng Med Devic 2017, 2:2 DOI: 10.4172/2475-7586.1000128 *Corresponding author: Logean Q Al-Karam, Biomedical Engineering Department, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Tel: +967901987187; E-mail: logean1978@yahoo.com Received July 12, 2017; Accepted July 25, 2017; Published July 31, 2017 Citation: Al-Neami AQ, Al-Karam LQ, Humadi MD, Alwan MH (2017) Applications and Advantages of Gold Nanoparticles as X-Ray Contrast Agent. J Biomed Eng Med Devic 2: 128. doi: 10.4172/2475-7586.1000128 Copyright: © 2017 Al-Neami AQ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Applications and Advantages of Gold Nanoparticles as X-Ray Contrast Agent Auns Q Al-Neami 1 , Logean Q Al-Karam 1 *, Mohanad D Humadi 2 and Mohammed H Alwan 1 1 Biomedical Engineering Department, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq 2 Department of Applied Sciences, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq Abstract A new contrast agent in medical imaging discovered and developed since 10 years ago and it’s under study until this moment because the classic contrast agents impose earnest limitations on medical imaging abilities such as the short imaging time, poor contrast X-ray images for obese patients (over weighted patients) and real side effects renal problems and toxicity problems. The new contrast agent is the Gold Nanoparticles (GNP) may overcome these restrictions due to its properties where the (GNP) bio distribution is higher than tri-iodobenzene compounds. also, bone /tissue interference is more clear and obvious than tri-iodobenzene compounds and in general nanoparticles clear the blood slowly than classic contrast agents which permit for longer imaging time and all of that leads to enhancing the X-ray diagnostic. Gold Nanoparticles were injected intraperitoneally into mice then images were taken by conventional X-RAY unit. Tumors were seen clearly. Keywords: Gold nanoparticles; X-ray; Toxicity Introduction Recently the nanoscience is present in Human life, and it has much impact on the areas of health care and medicine. he medical ield is complex, so all of the advantages from nanoscience to medicine ield will take a long time for being evident. However, other advantages will come promptly. he instruments of research and medical practice are expensive where the excellent results related to accurate tools which proportion to cost. he results of research will participate in birth a new generation of instruments as well as the diagnostics will become, more efective, enabling faster response and the ability to treat new diseases. drugs, Small sensors. Disease indicators and markers, implantable devices, computers, the diagnostic instrument will constantly monitor health, with low cost, and fully automatic processing will be possible. Many new kinds of treatment can be addressed, treating diseases more safely, the medicine cost will be cheaper than before and the beneits will be experienced by much more people around the world [1]. he nanomaterial is that material which has at least one dimension within the Nano range (1 to 100 nanometer). Any material in the nano range will have properties difers from the properties of the same the material in bulk range (more than 100 nm) such as the melting point and photo catalytic and interference with living organs properties and etc. he Gold Nanoparticles (GNP) has excellent properties for in vivo usage due to its inert, low toxicity, unique optical, chemical stability and ease to synthesis. he recent contrast agents of X-rays imaging are based on iodine with substituents added to overcome the problem of water solubility. For example, an ionic form is called “Diatrizoate”, was introduced in 1954, but its high osmolality was found to be the source of chemo toxicity [2]. In the 1970s, another non-ionic form which is called “ iohexol”, lowered osmolality and is still used today widely under the name “Omnipaque” and GE Healthcare. Because osmolality was still too much, a dimeric molecular weight to high molecular weight elements failed due to performance, toxicity, or cost. he iodine contrast agents with low molecular weights (diatrizoate, 613; iohexol, 821; iodixanol,1550) efect vascular permeation and rapid renal clearance, necessitating short imaging time. Catheterization is therefore required but carries the risks of arterial leakage, myocardial infarction, anaphylactic shock, dislodgement of plaque, stroke, and renal failure. Another important limitation of the iodine-based contrast agents is in molecular imaging since their combined with antibodies or other targeting moieties fail to deliver iodine to desired locations at detectable concentrations. So, the usage of (GNP) for X-ray imaging in vivo is preferred due to its higher atomic number (gold 79 vs. Iodine, 53), and the absorption coeicient of gold is higher where (at 100 keV: gold: 5.16 cm 2 / gm; iodine: 1.94 cm 2 /gm; sot tissue: 0.169 cm 2 /gm; and bone: 0.186 cm 2 / gm), the GNP provides contrast about 2.7 times greater than iodine per unit weight [3]. X-ray Imaging with (GNP) as contrast agent lessen interference from higher bone absorption to lower organs or sot tissue absorption which would minimize radiation dose to the patient. Gadolinium used as contrast agent instead of iodine-based contrast agent to imaging human chest with half of X-ray dose [4]. Perhaps Molecular imaging could be achieved as each nanoparticle like to bound targeting agent (GNP) would deliver gold atoms to a relative receptor that way increasing the information. he gold is expensive more than iodine but signiicant beneits and low detectable amounts should enable workable gold-mediated clinical radiography. he Intraperitoneal Injection is one of the most frequently used parenteral routes of administration in rats. the abdominal cavity is characterized by its large surface area and its plentiful blood supply and that will facilitate rapid absorption. Absorption from this route is usually one-half to one-quarter as rapid as that from the intravenous route (Woodard, 1965). However, for long-term studies, repeated injections may lead to tissue reaction and adhesions. As relatively considerable volumes can be given Intraperitoneally, as well as the potentially irritant substances, may be diluted. When using this method it has to be kept in mind that substances given intraperitoneally are irst absorbed into the portal circulation. So, Biotransformation of the injected substance may