Cellular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis Using Magnetofluorescent Nanomaterials

Objective: Magnetofluorescent nanoparticles (MFNPs) offer the ability to image cellular inflammation in vivo. To better understand their cellular targeting and imaging capabilities in atherosclerosis, we investigated prototypical dextran-coated near-infrared fluorescent MFNPs in the apolipoprotein E...

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Main Authors: Farouc A. Jaffer, Matthias Nahrendorf, David Sosnovik, Kimberly A. Kelly, Elena Aikawa, Ralph Weissleder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2006-04-01
Series:Molecular Imaging
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2310/7290.2006.00009
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author Farouc A. Jaffer
Matthias Nahrendorf
David Sosnovik
Kimberly A. Kelly
Elena Aikawa
Ralph Weissleder
author_facet Farouc A. Jaffer
Matthias Nahrendorf
David Sosnovik
Kimberly A. Kelly
Elena Aikawa
Ralph Weissleder
author_sort Farouc A. Jaffer
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Magnetofluorescent nanoparticles (MFNPs) offer the ability to image cellular inflammation in vivo. To better understand their cellular targeting and imaging capabilities in atherosclerosis, we investigated prototypical dextran-coated near-infrared fluorescent MFNPs in the apolipoprotein E-deficient (apo E−/−) mouse model. Methods and Results: In vitro MFNP uptake was highest in activated murine macrophages ( p < .001). Apo E−/− mice ( n = 11) were next injected with the MFNP (15 mg/kg iron) or saline. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated strong plaque enhancement by the MFNPs ( p < .001 vs. saline), which was confirmed by multimodality ex vivo MRI and fluorescence reflectance imaging. On fluorescence microscopy, MFNPs were found in cellular-rich areas of atheroma and colocalized with immunofluorescent macrophages over endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells ( p < .001). Conclusions: Here we show that (1) the in vitro and in vivo cellular distribution of atherosclerosis-targeted MFNPs can be quantified by using fluorescence imaging methods; (2) in atherosclerosis, dextranated MFNPs preferentially target macrophages; and (3) MFNP deposition in murine atheroma can be noninvasively detected by in vivo MRI. This study thus provides a foundation for using MFNPs to image genetic and/or pharmacological perturbations of cellular inflammation in experimental atherosclerosis and for the future development of novel targeted nanomaterials for atherosclerosis.
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spelling doaj-art-50626fe742e9471b89b3f4dd40bbd2682025-01-03T01:25:02ZengSAGE PublishingMolecular Imaging1536-01212006-04-01510.2310/7290.2006.0000910.2310_7290.2006.00009Cellular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis Using Magnetofluorescent NanomaterialsFarouc A. JafferMatthias NahrendorfDavid SosnovikKimberly A. KellyElena AikawaRalph WeisslederObjective: Magnetofluorescent nanoparticles (MFNPs) offer the ability to image cellular inflammation in vivo. To better understand their cellular targeting and imaging capabilities in atherosclerosis, we investigated prototypical dextran-coated near-infrared fluorescent MFNPs in the apolipoprotein E-deficient (apo E−/−) mouse model. Methods and Results: In vitro MFNP uptake was highest in activated murine macrophages ( p < .001). Apo E−/− mice ( n = 11) were next injected with the MFNP (15 mg/kg iron) or saline. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated strong plaque enhancement by the MFNPs ( p < .001 vs. saline), which was confirmed by multimodality ex vivo MRI and fluorescence reflectance imaging. On fluorescence microscopy, MFNPs were found in cellular-rich areas of atheroma and colocalized with immunofluorescent macrophages over endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells ( p < .001). Conclusions: Here we show that (1) the in vitro and in vivo cellular distribution of atherosclerosis-targeted MFNPs can be quantified by using fluorescence imaging methods; (2) in atherosclerosis, dextranated MFNPs preferentially target macrophages; and (3) MFNP deposition in murine atheroma can be noninvasively detected by in vivo MRI. This study thus provides a foundation for using MFNPs to image genetic and/or pharmacological perturbations of cellular inflammation in experimental atherosclerosis and for the future development of novel targeted nanomaterials for atherosclerosis.https://doi.org/10.2310/7290.2006.00009
spellingShingle Farouc A. Jaffer
Matthias Nahrendorf
David Sosnovik
Kimberly A. Kelly
Elena Aikawa
Ralph Weissleder
Cellular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis Using Magnetofluorescent Nanomaterials
Molecular Imaging
title Cellular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis Using Magnetofluorescent Nanomaterials
title_full Cellular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis Using Magnetofluorescent Nanomaterials
title_fullStr Cellular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis Using Magnetofluorescent Nanomaterials
title_full_unstemmed Cellular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis Using Magnetofluorescent Nanomaterials
title_short Cellular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis Using Magnetofluorescent Nanomaterials
title_sort cellular imaging of inflammation in atherosclerosis using magnetofluorescent nanomaterials
url https://doi.org/10.2310/7290.2006.00009
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AT kimberlyakelly cellularimagingofinflammationinatherosclerosisusingmagnetofluorescentnanomaterials
AT elenaaikawa cellularimagingofinflammationinatherosclerosisusingmagnetofluorescentnanomaterials
AT ralphweissleder cellularimagingofinflammationinatherosclerosisusingmagnetofluorescentnanomaterials