Dual-modality imaging of atherosclerotic plaques using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide labeled with rhodamine.
Yi LiYutao PanXiaodong WuYuan LiHuoqiang WangHong ZhuLei JiangPublished in: Nanomedicine (London, England) (2019)
Aim: The diagnosis of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques remains challenging. This study labeled ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide with rhodamine (USPIO-R) and evaluated USPIO-R for imaging atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were fed a high-fat diet and underwent MRI before and after an intravenous injection of USPIO-R. Subsequently, an aortic specimen from the mice was removed and sliced for fluorescence imaging and Prussian blue and immunofluorescent staining. Results: T2 signal loss appeared and persisted in the aortic plaque postinjection, and spontaneous fluorescence from the plaque was observed. The accumulated mechanism of USPIO-R by plaque was the macrophage internalization by Prussian blue and immunofluorescence. Conclusion: USPIO-R is a promising dual-modality probe for diagnosing and monitoring vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
Keyphrases
- iron oxide
- high fat diet
- fluorescence imaging
- adipose tissue
- coronary artery disease
- high resolution
- aortic valve
- insulin resistance
- photodynamic therapy
- pulmonary artery
- fluorescent probe
- left ventricular
- pet imaging
- magnetic resonance imaging
- living cells
- single molecule
- computed tomography
- magnetic resonance
- quantum dots
- low dose
- high fat diet induced
- heart failure
- mass spectrometry
- pulmonary hypertension
- skeletal muscle
- positron emission tomography
- iron oxide nanoparticles
- wild type