Composite silica coated gold nanosphere and quantum dots nanoparticles for X-ray CT and fluorescence bimodal imaging.

In this study, silica coated Au nanospheres (Au@SiO2) were prepared by a reverse microemulsion method; subsequently, a layer of fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) were adsorbed onto it and then it was coated with silica again. After modifying with PVP, the composite silica coated gold nanosphere and quantum dots nanoparticle (Au@SiO2-QDs/SiO2-PVP) was obtained. This composite structure contained Au and QDs, and it could be used for contrast-enhanced X-ray CT imaging and fluorescence imaging. Characterization showed that the composite nanoparticle had good dispersity, a high fluorescence intensity and a good effect of X-ray absorption, and it was suitable for using as a bimodal imaging probe.