Laser-produced Au nanoparticles as X-ray contrast agents for diagnostic imaging

We propose very promising gold nanoparticles for medicinal diagnostic and therapy. The synthesis of gold nanoparticles by using laser ablation in liquids and their physical characterization, jointed with their surface plasmon resonance absorptions, high density and atomic number, and high biocompatibility, is presented in the first part of the article. The second part describes aspects of X-ray absorption enhancement due to the presence of gold nanoparticles in the biological liquids and tissues. The third part of the manuscript shows the applications of gold nanoparticles as contrast medium for X-ray diagnostic imaging. We also discuss possibilities of improvement of the radio therapeutic dose released to disease tissues, to which the gold nanoparticles can be locally absorbed, transported, or injected.