Carbon Nanotube Based Imaging Agents

Abstract

Compositions and methods related to carbon Nanotubes are provided. More particularly, imaging agents comprising carbon Nanotubes internally loaded with a contrast agent and associated methods are provided. One example of a method may involve a method for imaging comprising: providing an imaging agent comprising a carbon Nanotube loaded with contrast agent; introducing the imaging agent into a cell; and imaging the cell to detect the presence of the imaging agent.

1 . An imaging agent comprising a carbon Nanotube and a contrast agent, the contrast agent being disposed within the carbon Nanotube. 
     
     
         2 . The imaging agent of  claim 1  wherein the carbon Nanotube is an ultra short carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging agent of  claim 1  wherein the Nanotube is substituted with serinol groups. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging agent of  claim 1  further comprising a buckysome, wherein the imaging agent is disposed within the buckysome. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging agent of  claim 1  wherein the contrast agent is I 2  or a molecule having an iodine moiety. 
     
     
         6 . A method of preparing ultra short carbon Nanotubes comprising:
 providing a plurality of single walled carbon Nanotubes produced by HiPco;   fluorinating the tubes;   purifying the tubes with concentrated HCl; and   cutting the tubes using pyrolysis.   
     
     
         7 . A method of loading Nanotubes with contrast agent comprising:
 providing ultra short carbon Nanotubes and a contrast agent; and   allowing the contrast agent to sublime thereby loading the ultra short carbon nanotubes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the contrast agent is I 2 . 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising reducing the loaded tubes using NaH. 
     
     
         10 . A method for imaging comprising:
 providing an imaging agent comprising a carbon Nanotube loaded with contrast agent;   introducing the imaging agent into a cell; and   imaging the cell to detect the presence of the imaging agent.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cell is imaged using computed tomography. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the contrast agent is I 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the imaging agent is disposed within a buckysome. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the carbon Nanotube is a single walled carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the carbon Nanotube is an ultra short carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the carbon Nanotube is substituted. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the carbon Nanotube is unsubstituted.