A Multimodal Nanocomposite for Biomedical Imaging

Abstract

A multimodal nanocomposite was designed, synthesized with super‐paramagnetic core (CoFe2O4), noble metal corona (Au), and semiconductor shell (TiO2). The sizes of core, core‐corona, and core‐corona‐shell particles were determined by TEM. This multimodal nanocrystal showed promise as a contrast agent for two of the most widely used biomedical imaging techniques: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and x‐ray computed tomography (CT). Finally, these nanocomposites were coated with a peptide SN‐50. This led to their ready uptake by the cultured cells and targeted the nanocomposites to the pores of nuclear membrane. Inside cells, this nanocomposite retained its integrity as shown by x‐ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM). Inside cells imaged by XFM we found the complex elemental signature of nanoconjugates (Ti‐Co‐Fe‐Au) always co‐registered in the 2D elemental map of the cell.