In vivo MR and Fluorescence Dual-modality Imaging of Atherosclerosis Characteristics in Mice Using Profilin-1 Targeted Magnetic Nanoparticles

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Abstract

Aims: This study aims to explore non-invasive imaging of atherosclerotic plaque through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) by using profilin-1 targeted magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (PF ₁-Cy5.5-DMSA-Fe ₃O ₄-NPs, denoted as PC-NPs) as multimodality molecular imaging probe in murine model of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results: PC-NPs were constructed by conjugating polyclonal profilin-1 antibody and NHS-Cy5.5 fluorescent dye to the surface of DMSA-Fe ₃O ₄-nanoparticles via condensation reaction. Murine atherosclerosis model was induced in apoE ^-/- mice by high fat and cholesterol diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. The plaque areas in aortic artery were detected with Oil Red O staining. Immunofluorescent staining and Western blot analysis were applied respectively to investigate profilin-1 expression. CCK-8 assay and transwell migration experiment were performed to detect vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation. In vivo MRI and NIRF imaging of atherosclerotic plaque were carried out before and 36 h after intravenous injection of PC-NPs. Oil Red O staining showed that the plaque area was significantly increased in HFD group ( p<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining revealed that profilin-1 protein was highly abundant within plaque in HFD group and co-localized with α-smooth muscle actin. Profilin-1 siRNA intervention could inhibit VSMCs proliferation and migration elicited by ox-LDL ( p<0.05). In vivo MRI and NIRF imaging revealed that PC-NPs accumulated in atherosclerotic plaque of carotid artery. There was a good correlation between the signals of MRI and ex vivo fluorescence intensities of NIRF imaging in animals with PC-NPs injection. Conclusion: PC-NPs is a promising dual modality imaging probe, which may improve molecular diagnosis of plaque characteristics and evaluation of pharmaceutical interventions for atherosclerosis.

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Hybrid in vivo FMT-CT imaging of protease activity in atherosclerosis with customized nanosensors.

Ralph Weissleder, Matthias Nahrendorf, Peter Panizzi … (2009)

Proteases are emerging biomarkers of inflammatory diseases. In atherosclerosis, these enzymes are often secreted by inflammatory macrophages, digest the extracellular matrix of the fibrous cap, and destabilize atheromata. Protease function can be monitored with protease activatable imaging probes and quantitated in vivo by fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT). To address 2 major constraints currently associated with imaging of murine atherosclerosis (lack of highly sensitive probes and absence of anatomic information), we compared protease sensors (PS) of variable size and pharmacokinetics and coregistered FMT datasets with computed tomography (FMT-CT). Coregistration of FMT and CT was achieved with a multimodal imaging cartridge containing fiducial markers detectable by both modalities. A high-resolution CT angiography protocol accurately localized fluorescence to the aortic root of atherosclerotic apoE(-/-) mice. To identify suitable sensors, we first modeled signal kinetics in-silico and then compared 3 probes with oligo-L-lysine cleavage sequences: PS-5, 5 nm in diameter containing 2 fluorochromes, PS-25, a 25-nm version with an elongated lysine chain and PS-40, a polymeric nanoparticle. Serial FMT-CT showed fastest kinetics for PS-5 but, surprisingly, highest fluorescence in lesions of the aortic root for PS-40. PS-40 robustly reported therapeutic effects of atorvastatin, corroborated by ex vivo imaging and qPCR for the model protease cathepsin B. FMT-CT is a robust and observer-independent tool for noninvasive assessment of inflammatory murine atherosclerosis. Reporter-containing nanomaterials may have unique advantages over small molecule agents for in vivo imaging.

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Dual-Modal Magnetic Resonance and Fluorescence Imaging of Atherosclerotic Plaques in Vivo Using VCAM-1 Targeted Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Michael A Bruckman, Kai-da Jiang, Emily Simpson … (2014)

The underlying cause of major cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarctions and strokes, is atherosclerosis. For accurate diagnosis of this inflammatory disease, molecular imaging is required. Toward this goal, we sought to develop a nanoparticle-based, high aspect ratio, molecularly targeted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent. Specifically, we engineered the plant viral nanoparticle platform tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) to target vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, which is highly expressed on activated endothelial cells at atherosclerotic plaques. To achieve dual optical and MR imaging in an atherosclerotic ApoE–/– mouse model, TMV was modified to carry near-infrared dyes and chelated Gd ions. Our results indicate molecular targeting of atherosclerotic plaques. On the basis of the multivalency and multifunctionality, the targeted TMV-based MR probe increased the detection limit significantly; the injected dose of Gd ions could be further reduced 400x compared to the suggested clinical use, demonstrating the utility of targeted nanoparticle cargo delivery.

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Comparison of visible and near-infrared wavelength-excitable fluorescent dyes for molecular imaging of cancer.

Kristen Adams, Shi Ke, Sunkuk Kwon … (2015)

Targeted fluorescent molecular imaging probes may provide an optimal means of detecting disease. Stable, organic fluorophores can be repeatedly excited in vivo by propagated light and consequentially can provide large signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for image detection of target tissues. In the literature, many small animal imaging studies are performed with a red excitable dye, Cy5.5, conjugated to the targeting component. We report the comparison of the in vivo fluorescent imaging performance of a near-IR (NIR) and a red-excitable dye. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was conjugated with Cy5.5 [excitation/emission (ex/em), 660710 nm] or IRDye 800CW (ex/em: 785830 nm) for imaging EGF receptor (EGFr) positive (MDA-MB-468) and/or negative (MDA-MB-435) human breast cancer cell lines in subcutaneous xenograft models. The conjugates were injected intravenously at 1-nmol-dye equivalent with and without anti-EGFr monoclonal antibody C225, preadministered 24 h prior as a competitive ligand to EGFr. Our images show that while both agents target EGFr, the EGF-IRDye 800CW evidenced a significantly reduced background and enhanced the tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) compared to the EGF-Cy5.5. Immunohistochemistry shows that EGF causes activation of the EGFr signaling pathway, suggesting that prior to use as a targeting, diagnostic agent, potential deleterious effects should be considered.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Theranostics

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Theranostics

Journal ID (publisher-id): thno

Title: Theranostics

Publisher: Ivyspring International Publisher (Sydney )

ISSN (Electronic): 1838-7640

Publication date Collection: 2016

Publication date (Electronic): 1 January 2016

Volume: 6

Issue: 2

Pages: 272-286

Affiliations

1. Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China

2. Department of Cardiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, 710032, China

3. Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China

4. Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine (LOMIN), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892-2281, USA

Author notes

✉ Corresponding authors: Feng Cao, Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China. E-mail: wind8828@ 123456gmail.com . Co-corresponding to Yundai Chen, cyundai@ 123456126.com .

# Contribute equally to this work

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Article

Publisher ID: thnov06p0272

DOI: 10.7150/thno.13350

PMC ID: 4729775

PubMed ID: 26877785

SO-VID: 9990269d-885b-4e4f-993a-00c044c9dfbb

Copyright © © Ivyspring International Publisher. Reproduction is permitted for personal, noncommercial use, provided that the article is in whole, unmodified, and properly cited. See http://ivyspring.com/terms for terms and conditions.

In vivo MR and Fluorescence Dual-modality Imaging of Atherosclerosis Characteristics in Mice Using Profilin-1 Targeted Magnetic Nanoparticles

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Most cited references 24

Hybrid in vivo FMT-CT imaging of protease activity in atherosclerosis with customized nanosensors.

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Comparison of visible and near-infrared wavelength-excitable fluorescent dyes for molecular imaging of cancer.

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