| abstract |
A material which is suitable for use as a contrast agent for diagnostic imaging comprises (i) nanoparticles, (ii) amphiphile self-assembled into an ordered lyotropic liquid crystal phase, (iii) a liquid solvent in which the lyotropic liquid crystal phase is dispersed as nanodroplets, and (iv) a stabiliser for providing stabilisation against re-aggregation of the nanodroplets, wherein the nanoparticles are distributed within the dispersed nanodroplets of the lyotropic liquid crystal phase. |