VCAM‐1‐targeting gold nanoshell probe for photoacoustic imaging of atherosclerotic plaque in mice. (29th October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rouleau, Leonie; Berti, Romain; Ng, Vanessa W. K.; Matteau‐Pelletier, Carl; Lam, Tina; Saboural, Pierre; Kakkar, Ashok K.; Lesage, Frédéric; Rhéaume, Eric; Tardif, Jean‐Claude
• Is Part Of: Contrast media & molecular imaging. Volume 8:Number 1(2013:Jan./Feb.)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2012-10-29
• Subjects: Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; Magnetic resonance imaging -- Periodicals; Contrast media (Diagnostic imaging) -- Periodicals; Contrast Media -- Periodicals; Diagnostic Imaging -- Periodicals; Substances de contraste -- Périodiques; Diagnostics moléculaires -- Périodiques; Imagerie médicale; Substance de contraste; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.0754
• DOI: 10.1002/cmmi.1491
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-4309

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The development of molecular probes and novel imaging modalities, allowing better resolution and specificity, is associated with an increased potential for molecular imaging of atherosclerotic plaques especially in basic and pre‐clinical research applications. In that context, a photoacoustic molecular probe based on gold nanoshells targeting VCAM‐1 in mice (immunonanoshells) was designed. The molecular probe was validated <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic>, showing no noticeable acute toxic effects. We performed the conjugation of gold nanoshells displaying near‐infrared absorption properties with VCAM‐1 antibody molecules and PEG to increase their biocompatibility. The resulting immunonanoshells obtained under different conditions of conjugation were then assessed for specificity and sensitivity. Photoacoustic tomography was performed to determine the ability to distinguish gold nanoshells from blood both in phantoms and <italic>in vivo</italic>. <italic>Ex vivo</italic> optical projection tomography of hearts and aortas from atherosclerotic and control mice confirmed the selective accumulation of the immunonanoshells in atherosclerotic‐prone regions in mice, thus validating the utility of the probe <italic>in vivo</italic> in small animals for pre‐clinical research. These immunonanoshells represent an adequate mean to target atherosclerotic plaques in small animals, leading to new tools to follow the effect of therapies on the progression or regression of the disease. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>