Viscover exitron nano 12000

Animals were anesthetized by isoflurane (Forene, Abbott France, Rungis, France) inhalation (3% for induction and 1–1.5% for maintenance) and then after placed in a carbon fibers bed. CT images were acquired on a dedicated small animal μCT scanner (Skyscan 1076, Bruker, Kontich, Belgium) while continuously rotating the camera by 180° with the following parameters: 50 kV, 0.5 mm Al filter, 200 μA source current, 35 μm isotropic resolution, 180 ms exposure time, 4 projection images per 0.7° rotation step and a retrospective synchronization. The projections were reconstructed using a filtered backprojection algorithm using Skyscan software (NRecon, Skyscan). For tumor angiography analysis, an alkaline earth-based nanoparticulate contrast agent (Viscover ExiTron nano 12000, Miltenyi Biotec, Paris, France) was injected in the mouse tail vein. Mice were imaged during the next 30 min following injection, a period during which no reduction in contrast was observed [35 (link)]. Analysis of reconstructed images and quantification of the vascular network were performed using Amira 5.4.3 software.

Animals were anesthetized by isoflurane (Forene, Abbott France, Rungis, France) inhalation (3–5% for induction and 2–3% for maintenance) and then after placed in a warm imaging bed (Minerve, Esternay, France) allowing the maintenance of isoflurane anesthesia. CT images were acquired on a dedicated small animal μCT scanner (Skyscan1076, Bruker, Kontich, Belgium) while continuously rotating the camera by 180° with the following parameters: 80 kV, 0.5 mm Al filter, 120 μA source current, 35 μm isotropic resolution, 230 ms exposure time, 2 projection images per 0.5° rotation step, and a prospective respiratory synchronization. The projections were reconstructed using a filtered backprojection algorithm using Skyscan software (NRecon, Skyscan). For tumor angiography analysis, an alkaline earth-based nanoparticulate contrast agent (Viscover ExiTron nano 12000, Miltenyi Biotec, Paris, France) was injected in the mouse tail vein. Mice were imaged during the next 30 min following injection, a period during which no reduction in contrast was observed (31 (link)). Analysis of 3D reconstructed images and quantification of the vascular network were performed using Amira 6.5 software (Thermofisher, USA).

Liver tissues and liver tumors in rats were visualized on contrast-enhanced micro-CT using contrast agent (Viscover ExiTron nano 12000, Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany)^{25 (link)}. This contrast agent is an alkaline earth-based nanoparticulate contrast agent specifically formulated for preclinical CT^{26 (link)}. The contrast agent was administered to rats via the tail vein as a bolus injection of 200 μL of ExiTron nano 12000. The rats were imaged 4 h after the injection. CT was performed using a micro-CT scanner (Latheta LCT-200, Hitachi Aloka Medical, Tokyo, Japan). The X-ray tube was operated using the following settings: tube voltage, 50 kV; tube current, 0.5 mA; slice interval, 240 μm; and CT scan time, 7–12 min. A tumor was defined as a non-enhancing lesion > 1 mm in diameter in the liver. Using approximately 150–200 CT images of samples, the shortest and longest diameters of the nodules were measured by two interventional radiologists using an image viewer (OsiriX version 12.0, Pixmeo, Bernex, Switzerland). Tumor volume was calculated using the following formula: volume = W² × L/2, with W being the shortest diameter and L being the longest diameter^{27 (link)}.