Hybrid Composite of Silver Nanoparticle–Porous Silicon Microparticles as an Image-Guided Localization Agent for Computed Tomography Scan of the Lungs

A hybrid composite of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and porous silicon microparticles (pSiMPs) was developed and applied for the computed tomography (CT) scanning of the lungs as an image-guided localization agent. We confirmed the grafting of AgNPs on oxidized pSiMPs template using various analytical equipment, including a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The hybrid composite showed a high CT contrast intensity (>1000 HU) that enabled us to produce and view images of the lungs. In addition, it showed the ability to maintain a strong CT signal at the injected area of the rabbit’s lungs, up to an hour, without spreading. The lack of toxicity and immune response indicated that the composite could be fully utilized as a new image-guided localization agent of CT scans for lung cancer surgery.