Abstract

Aim of this work was to investigate the automatic echographic detection of an experimentaldrug delivery agent, halloysite clay nanotubes (HNTs), by employing an innovative methodbased on advanced spectral analysis of the corresponding "raw" radiofrequency backscattersignals. Different HNT concentrations in a low range (5.5-66  1010 part/mL, equivalent to0.25-3.00 mg/mL) were dispersed in custom-designed tissue-mimicking phantoms and imagedthrough a clinically-available echographic device at a conventional ultrasound diagnostic frequency(10 MHz). The most effective response (sensitivity = 60%, specificity = 95%), was found ata concentration of 33  1010 part/mL (1.5 mg/mL), representing a kind of best compromisebetween the need of enough particles to introduce detectable spectral modifications in thebackscattered signal and the necessity to avoid the losses of spectral peculiarity associated tohigher HNT concentrations. Based on theoretical considerations and quantitative comparisonswith literature-available results, this concentration could also represent an optimal concentrationlevel for the automatic echographic detection of different solid nanoparticles when employinga similar ultrasound frequency. Future dedicated studies will assess the actual clinical usefulness ofthe proposed approach and the potential of HNTs for effective theranostic applications.

Autore Pugliese

• Conversano Francesco , Di Paola Marco , Casciaro Sergio , Quarta Alessandra , Leporatti Stefano

Tutti gli autori

• F. Conversano; P. Pisani; E. Casciaro; M. Di Paola; S. Leporatti; R. Franchini ; A. Quarta; G. Gigli; S. Casciaro

Titolo volume/Rivista

Nanomaterials

Anno di pubblicazione

2016

ISSN

2079-4991

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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