Abstract |
The development of atherosclerosis therapy is hampered by the lack of molecular imaging tools to identify the relevant biomarkers and determine the dynamic variation in vivo. Here, we show that a chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) targeted gold nanocluster conjugated with extracellular loop 1 inverso peptide (AuNC-ECL1i) determines the initiation, progression and regression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knock-out ( ApoE-/-) mouse models. The CCR2 targeted 64Cu-AuNC-ECL1i reveals sensitive detection of early atherosclerotic lesions and progression of plaques in ApoE-/- mice. CCR2 targeting specificity was confirmed by the competitive receptor blocking studies. In a mouse model of aortic arch transplantation, 64Cu-AuNC-ECL1i accurately detects the regression of plaques. Human atherosclerotic tissues show high expression of CCR2 related to the status of the disease. This study confirms CCR2 as a useful marker for atherosclerosis and points to the potential of 64Cu-AuNC-ECL1i as a targeted molecular imaging probe for future clinical translation.
|
Authors | Deborah Sultan, Wenjun Li, Lisa Detering, Gyu Seong Heo, Hannah P Luehmann, Daniel Kreisel, Yongjian Liu |
Journal | Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine
(Nanomedicine)
Vol. 36
Pg. 102416
(08 2021)
ISSN: 1549-9642 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 34147662
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
|
Copyright | Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
|
Topics |
- Animals
- Atherosclerosis
(diagnostic imaging, genetics, metabolism)
- Contrast Media
(chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Gold
(chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
- Metal Nanoparticles
(chemistry, therapeutic use)
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic
(diagnostic imaging, genetics, metabolism)
- Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
|