Stabilized gold nanoparticle and contrast agent

1. A kit for providing a contrast enhancer in a mammal for contrasting during imaging of the mammal, the kit consisting of:

gold nanoparticles functionalized with a biomolecule for engagement with a target portion of the mammal, wherein the gold nanoparticles are directly coated with bisphosphonate and gum arabic; and

an aqueous solution of the gum arabic.

2. A kit as defined by claim 1 wherein the coated gold nanoparticles are functionalized with a bombesin molecule, and wherein the target portion of the mammal comprises a lesion.

3. A kit as defined by claim 1 wherein the coated gold nanoparticles are provided in a dosage sufficient to cause engagement between a target portion of the mammal in a ratio of at least 1 mg gold nanoparticles/gm of target portion of the mammal.

4. A kit as defined by claim 1 wherein the coated gold nanoparticles are configured to allow a period of at least about 24 hours after injection into the mammal before using an imaging apparatus to perform imaging on the mammal.

5. A kit as defined by claim 1 wherein the coated gold nanoparticles have a diameter of less than about 20 nm and the target portion of the mammal is the lungs.

6. A kit as defined by claim 1 wherein the coated gold nanoparticles have a diameter of greater than about 20 nm and the target portion of the mammal is one or more of the liver and the spleen.

7. A kit as defined by claim 1 wherein the coated gold nanoparticles are provided in a dosage of between about 2 and about 45 mg per kilogram body weight of the mammal.

8. A kit as defined by claim 1 wherein the coated gold nanoparticles are provided in a dosage of between about 1 and about 5 mg per kilogram body weight of the mammal.

9. A kit as defined by claim 1 wherein the target portion of the mammal comprises one or more of an organ, tissue or a lesion.