A
medical device comprising radiopaque water-dispersible metallic nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are released from the
medical device upon implantation of the device. The
medical device of the present invention is sufficiently radiopaque for x-
ray visualization during implantation, but loses its radiopacity after implantation to allow for subsequent
visualization using more sensitive
imaging modalities such as CT or MRI.The nanoparticles are formed of a metallic material and have surface modifications that impart water-dispersibility to the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be any of the various types of radiopaque water-dispersible metallic nanoparticles that are known in the art. The nanoparticles may be adapted to facilitate clearance through renal
filtration or
biliary excretion. The nanoparticles may be adapted to reduce tissue accumulation and have
reduced toxicity in the
human body. The nanoparticles may be applied directly onto the medical device, e.g., as a
coating, or be carried on the surface of or within a carrier
coating on the medical device, or be dispersed within the pores of a
porous layer or porous surface on the medical device. The medical device itself may be biodegradable and may have the nanoparticles embedded within the medical device itself or applied as or within a
coating on the biodegradable medical device. The nanoparticles may be released by
diffusion through the carrier coating, disruption of
hydrogen bonds between the nanoparticles and the carrier coating, degradation of the
nanoparticle coating, degradation of the carrier coating,
diffusion of the nanoparticles from the medical device, or degradation of the medical device carrying the nanoparticles.