{
  "abstract": "Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases pose significant diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific early symptoms and the difficulty in detecting subtle lesions. Dynamic X-ray imaging and high spatial-resolution computed tomography (CT) provide flexible and powerful tools for the precise diagnosis of diverse GI diseases. However, current clinical X-ray contrast agents (CAs) still present inherent limitations, as barium sulfate exhibits poor water solubility, and iodine-based small molecules encounter issues of iodine allergy, contraindications and generally low sensitivity. Here, we report noninvasive diagnosis of diverse GI disorders using tantalum-rich carbon dots (Ta-rCDs) as an X-ray CA. Ta-rCDs are prepared through a simple and scalable high-temperature carbonization process, featuring ultrahigh Ta content (∼48%), gram-scale yield (3.2 g per batch), ultrasmall hydrodynamic size (∼3 nm), excellent water solubility (>500 mg/mL) and strong X-ray attenuation. In models of small-intestinal stricture and esophageal leakage, Ta-rCDs enable simultaneous dynamic X-ray tracking and high-resolution CT imaging, allowing the visualization of microlesions and demonstrating efficient renal excretion upon entering the peritoneal cavity. Systematic biocompatibility assessments further confirm their good biosafety. Together these findings offer a noninvasive, real-time and high-sensitivity strategy for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of GI diseases.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Yibo Wei"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nan Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wenjing Hou"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ran Cheng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shaokai Sun",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6136-9969"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gang Shu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4cj0xx1q3vg03.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1093/rb/rbag187",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13730795/",
  "id": "4cj0xx1q3vg03",
  "issns": [
    "2056-3418",
    "2056-3426"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/rb/rbag187",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/MED00010"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/SCI01410"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Research Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212164468",
  "pdf_url": "https://academic.oup.com/rb/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/rb/rbag187/71019396/rbag187.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13730795",
  "pmid": "42979633",
  "published": "2026-09-10",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4cj0xx1q3vg03.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T12:23:17Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13730795",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/rb/rbag187"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Noninvasive diagnosis of diverse gastrointestinal disorders using tantalum-rich carbon dots as an X-ray contrast agent",
  "title_text": "Noninvasive diagnosis of diverse gastrointestinal disorders using tantalum-rich carbon dots as an X-ray contrast agent",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:23:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4cj0xx1q3vg03",
  "venue": "Regenerative Biomaterials",
  "versions": []
}