Preparation of Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Particles Containing Gold Nanoparticles by In Situ Polymerization

As the first step to use an organic/inorganic composite combining gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and polymer particles as a contrast agent for computed tomography (CT), PEG hydrogel particles containing AuNPs, Au-PEG hydrogel particles, were prepared and the synthetic conditions were established to improve the CT intensity of the Au-PEG hydrogel particles. Au-PEG hydrogel particles that had the highest CT intensity were obtained and the encapsulated AuNPs were not released from the hydrogel particles when Au-PEG hydrogel particles were synthesized by in situ polymerization with which the AuNPs were loaded in the PEG hydrogel particles during the polymerization. The CT intensity of the Au-PEG hydrogel particles increased, as the concentration of the loaded AuNPs and the 1st polymerization time of the polymerization process increased. In addition, when the non-ionic surfactant was used as a dispersion stabilizer, Au-PEG hydrogel particles showed good dispersibility and the highest CT density.