Enhanced sensitivity of spectral CT imaging in vivo by using Ytterbium chelate

[Display omitted] •A high-performance spectral CT contrast agent Ytterbium chelate was prepared.•Ytterbium chelate is expected to enhance the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy.•Ytterbium chelate may help ease the burden of CT examination. Spectral CT can overcome the shortcomings of conventional CT, however, clinically used iodized contrast agents are not ideal for spectral CT imaging, which calls for the development of novel contrast agent with high attenuation coefficient. In this study, a small molecule lanthanide chelate Ytterbium-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (Yb-DOTA) was prepared by a simple and green one-step method, and it had multi-advantages such as good stability, excellent biocompatibility and high performance of spectral CT imaging in vitro and in vivo. In addition, Yb-DOTA had more prominent ability to visualize renal tissue, GI tract, the heart and venous system in both conventional and spectral CT imaging compared with clinical iohexol. Moreover, higher tissue contrast and enhanced sensitivity were achieved at high monochromatic energies (70–150 keV) after Yb-DOTA administration, indicating its superior spectral CT imaging performance. Yb-DOTA is expected to be a novel contrast agent to enhance the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy.