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-deficient (apo E-/-) mouse model.
METHODS AND RESULTS: In vitro MFNP uptake was highest in activated murine macrophages (p 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.