A Cationic Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging of Articular Cartilage: Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Diffusion and Attenuation Properties
The aim of this study was the preliminary assessment of a new cationic contrast agent, the CA4+, via the analysis of spatial distribution in cartilage of ex vivo bovine samples, at micrometer and millimeter scale. Osteochondral plugs (<i>n</i> = 18) extracted from bovine stifle joints (&...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/9/2111 |
| _version_ | 1797489440601407488 |
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| author | Simone Fantoni Ilenia Gabucci Paolo Cardarelli Gianfranco Paternò Angelo Taibi Virginia Cristofori Claudio Trapella Armando Bazzani Marta Assenza Alice Zanna Bonacorsi Daniele Conti Fabio Baruffaldi |
| author_facet | Simone Fantoni Ilenia Gabucci Paolo Cardarelli Gianfranco Paternò Angelo Taibi Virginia Cristofori Claudio Trapella Armando Bazzani Marta Assenza Alice Zanna Bonacorsi Daniele Conti Fabio Baruffaldi |
| author_sort | Simone Fantoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was the preliminary assessment of a new cationic contrast agent, the CA4+, via the analysis of spatial distribution in cartilage of ex vivo bovine samples, at micrometer and millimeter scale. Osteochondral plugs (<i>n</i> = 18) extracted from bovine stifle joints (<i>n</i> = 2) were immersed in CA4+ solution up to 26 h. Planar images were acquired at different time points, using a microCT apparatus. The CA4+ distribution in cartilage and saturation time were evaluated. Tibial plates from bovine stifle joints (<i>n</i> = 3) were imaged with CT, before and after 24 h-CA4+ bath immersion, at different concentrations. Afterward, potential CA4+ washout from cartilage was investigated. From microCT acquisitions, the CA4+ distribution differentiated into three distinct layers inside the cartilage, reflecting the spatial distribution of proteoglycans. After 24 h of diffusion, the iodine concentration reached in cartilage was approximately seven times that of the CA4+ bath. The resulting saturation time was 1.9 ± 0.9 h and 2.6 ± 2.9 h for femoral and tibial samples, respectively. Analysis of clinical CT acquisitions confirmed overall contrast enhancement of cartilage after 24 h immersion, observed for each CA4+ concentration. Distinct contrast enhancement was reached in different cartilage regions, depending on tissue’s local features. Incomplete but remarkable washout of cartilage was observed. CA4+ significantly improved cartilage visualization and its qualitative analysis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:17:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f9e221f54884ce9800a527106c1143c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:17:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f9e221f54884ce9800a527106c1143c2023-11-23T15:48:55ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182022-08-01129211110.3390/diagnostics12092111A Cationic Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging of Articular Cartilage: Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Diffusion and Attenuation PropertiesSimone Fantoni0Ilenia Gabucci1Paolo Cardarelli2Gianfranco Paternò3Angelo Taibi4Virginia Cristofori5Claudio Trapella6Armando Bazzani7Marta Assenza8Alice Zanna Bonacorsi9Daniele Conti10Fabio Baruffaldi11Department of Physics and Astronomy, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Division of Ferrara, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Division of Ferrara, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyMedical Technology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, ItalyMedical Technology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, ItalyMedical Technology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, ItalyMedical Technology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, ItalyThe aim of this study was the preliminary assessment of a new cationic contrast agent, the CA4+, via the analysis of spatial distribution in cartilage of ex vivo bovine samples, at micrometer and millimeter scale. Osteochondral plugs (<i>n</i> = 18) extracted from bovine stifle joints (<i>n</i> = 2) were immersed in CA4+ solution up to 26 h. Planar images were acquired at different time points, using a microCT apparatus. The CA4+ distribution in cartilage and saturation time were evaluated. Tibial plates from bovine stifle joints (<i>n</i> = 3) were imaged with CT, before and after 24 h-CA4+ bath immersion, at different concentrations. Afterward, potential CA4+ washout from cartilage was investigated. From microCT acquisitions, the CA4+ distribution differentiated into three distinct layers inside the cartilage, reflecting the spatial distribution of proteoglycans. After 24 h of diffusion, the iodine concentration reached in cartilage was approximately seven times that of the CA4+ bath. The resulting saturation time was 1.9 ± 0.9 h and 2.6 ± 2.9 h for femoral and tibial samples, respectively. Analysis of clinical CT acquisitions confirmed overall contrast enhancement of cartilage after 24 h immersion, observed for each CA4+ concentration. Distinct contrast enhancement was reached in different cartilage regions, depending on tissue’s local features. Incomplete but remarkable washout of cartilage was observed. CA4+ significantly improved cartilage visualization and its qualitative analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/9/2111X-ray imagingarticular cartilagecontrast agentcontrast-enhanced computed tomographyproteoglycanspost-traumatic osteoarthritis |
| spellingShingle | Simone Fantoni Ilenia Gabucci Paolo Cardarelli Gianfranco Paternò Angelo Taibi Virginia Cristofori Claudio Trapella Armando Bazzani Marta Assenza Alice Zanna Bonacorsi Daniele Conti Fabio Baruffaldi A Cationic Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging of Articular Cartilage: Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Diffusion and Attenuation Properties Diagnostics X-ray imaging articular cartilage contrast agent contrast-enhanced computed tomography proteoglycans post-traumatic osteoarthritis |
| title | A Cationic Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging of Articular Cartilage: Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Diffusion and Attenuation Properties |
| title_full | A Cationic Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging of Articular Cartilage: Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Diffusion and Attenuation Properties |
| title_fullStr | A Cationic Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging of Articular Cartilage: Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Diffusion and Attenuation Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Cationic Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging of Articular Cartilage: Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Diffusion and Attenuation Properties |
| title_short | A Cationic Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging of Articular Cartilage: Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Diffusion and Attenuation Properties |
| title_sort | cationic contrast agent in x ray imaging of articular cartilage pre clinical evaluation of diffusion and attenuation properties |
| topic | X-ray imaging articular cartilage contrast agent contrast-enhanced computed tomography proteoglycans post-traumatic osteoarthritis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/9/2111 |
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