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Ultra-selective carbon nanotubes for photoacoustic imaging of inflamed atherosclerotic plaques.

ABSTRACT: Disruption of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques often leads to myocardial infarction and stroke, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. A diagnostic method that detects high-risk atherosclerotic plaques at early stages could prevent these sequelae. The abundance of immune cells in the arterial wall, especially inflammatory Ly-6C^hi monocytes and foamy macrophages, is indicative of plaque‎ inflammation, and may be associated with plaque vulnerability. Hence, we sought to develop a new method that specifically targets these immune cells to offer clinically-relevant diagnostic information about cardiovascular disease. We combine ultra-selective nanoparticle targeting of Ly-6C^hi monocytes and foamy macrophages with clinically-viable photoacoustic imaging (PAI) in order to precisely and specifically image inflamed plaques ex vivo in a mouse model that mimics human vulnerable plaques histopathologically. Within the plaques, high-dimensional single-cell flow cytometry (13-parameter) showed that our nanoparticles were almost-exclusively taken up by the Ly-6C^hi monocytes and foamy macrophages that heavily infiltrate plaques. PAI identified inflamed atherosclerotic plaques that display ~6-fold greater signal compared to controls (P<0.001) six hours after intravenous injection of ultra-selective carbon nanotubes, with in vivo corroboration via optical imaging. Our highly selective strategy may provide a targeted, non-invasive imaging strategy to accurately identify and diagnose inflamed atherosclerotic lesions.

SUBMITTER: Gifani M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8559995 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ultra-selective carbon nanotubes for photoacoustic imaging of inflamed atherosclerotic plaques.

Gifani Mahsa M Eddins Devon J DJ Kosuge Hisanori H Zhang Yapei Y Paluri Sesha L A SLA Larson Timothy T Leeper Nicholas N Herzenberg Leonore A LA Gambhir Sanjiv Sam SS McConnell Michael V MV Ghosn Eliver E B EEB Smith Bryan Ronain BR

Advanced functional materials 20210617 37

Disruption of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques often leads to myocardial infarction and stroke, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. A diagnostic method that detects high-risk atherosclerotic plaques at early stages could prevent these sequelae. The abundance of immune cells in the arterial wall, especially inflammatory Ly-6C<sup>hi</sup> monocytes and foamy macrophages, is indicative of plaque‎ inflammation, and may be associated with plaque vulnerability. Hence ...[more]

PMID: 34733130

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Project description:INTRODUCTION:Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The identification of vulnerable plaque at risk of rupture has been a major focus of research. Hypoxia has been identified as a potential factor in the formation of vulnerable plaque, and it is clear that decreased oxygen plays a role in the development of plaque angiogenesis leading to plaque destabilization. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of copper-64 labeled diacetyl-bis (N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone) ((64)Cu-ATSM), a positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical taken up in low-oxygen-tension cells, for the identification of hypoxic and potentially unstable atherosclerotic plaque in a mouse model. METHODS:(64)Cu-ATSM PET was performed in 21 atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice, 6 of which were fed high-fat diet (HFD) while the others received standard-chow diet (SCD), and 13 control wild type mice fed SCD. 4 SCD ApoE(-/-) mice and 4 SCD wild type mice also underwent (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging one day prior to (64)Cu-ATSM PET. RESULTS:(64)Cu-ATSM uptake was increased in the aortic arch in SCD ApoE(-/-) mice (average aortic arch/muscle (A/M) standardized uptake value ratio 7.5-30min post injection: (5.66±0.23) compared to control mice (A/M SUV ratio 7.5-30min post injection (3.87±0.22), p<0.0001). HFD ApoE(-/-) mice also showed similarly increased aortic arch uptake on PET imaging in comparison to control mice. Immunohistochemistry in both HFD and SCD ApoE(-/-) mice revealed noticeable hypoxia by pimonidazole stain in atherosclerosis which was co-localized to macrophage by CD68 staining. Autoradiography assessment demonstrated the presence of hypoxia by (64)Cu-ATSM uptake correlated with pimonidazole uptake within the ex vivo atherosclerotic aortic arch specimens. A significant increase in (18)F-FDG uptake in the SCD ApoE(-/-) mice in comparison to controls was also observed at delayed time points. CONCLUSION:This pre-clinical study suggests that (64)Cu-ATSM is a potential PET tracer for hypoxia imaging in atherosclerosis. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT CARE:While studies in humans are necessary for conclusive data, in the long term, a (64)Cu-ATSM PET imaging strategy could help facilitate the study of plaque biology in human patients.

Dataset Information

Ultra-selective carbon nanotubes for photoacoustic imaging of inflamed atherosclerotic plaques.

Publications

Ultra-selective carbon nanotubes for photoacoustic imaging of inflamed atherosclerotic plaques.

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