A physiologic flow chamber model to define intravascular ultrasound enhancement of fibrin using echogenic liposomes.
OBJECTIVE
Echogenic immunoliposomes (ELIP) for enhancement of vasoactive and pathologic components of endothelium and atherosclerosis have been developed. A physiologic flow chamber model has been developed to define intravascular ultrasound enhancement of a fibrin interface.


METHODS
A IgG ELIP was used, which nonspecifically associated with fibrin, to demonstrate the suitability of this model. With varying doses of IgG ELIP, the fibrin wells were imaged at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 minutes.


RESULTS
IgG ELIP enhanced fibrin versus saline (P < 0.005) was visible at 1 minute, lasted at least 9 minutes, and at 6 minutes the interface enhanced 27% +/- 6.1%. Enhancement was caused by increases in interface thickness and brightness. Enhancement increased with dose up to 8 mg lipid (n = 4 per time point).


CONCLUSIONS
This model can quantitate the components of IVUS enhancement of an interface produced by ELIP. This model may allow for further development and understanding of ELIP and other targeted ultrasound contrast agents.
Hamilton
Andrew
A
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2908, USA. a-hamilton@northwestern.edu
Rabbat
Mark
M
Jain
Parag
P
Belkind
Noam
N
Huang
Shao-Ling
SL
Nagaraj
Ashwin
A
Klegerman
Melvin
M
Macdonald
Robert
R
McPherson
David D
DD
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005337:Fibrin; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D008081:Liposomes; D011817:Rabbits; D012212:Rheology; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D008081:Liposomes; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005337:Fibrin