title: Noninvasive detection of macrophages using a nanoparticulate contrast agent for computed tomography.
abstract: Sudden fibrous cap disruption of 'high-risk' atherosclerotic plaques can trigger the formation of an occlusive thrombus in coronary arteries, causing acute coronary syndromes. High-risk atherosclerotic plaques are characterized by their specific cellular and biological content (in particular, a high density of macrophages), rather than by their impact on the vessel lumen. Early identification of high-risk plaques may be useful for preventing ischemic events. One major hurdle in detecting high-risk atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries is the lack of an imaging modality that allows for the identification of atherosclerotic plaque composition with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Here we show that macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques of rabbits can be detected with a clinical X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner after the intravenous injection of a contrast agent formed of iodinated nanoparticles dispersed with surfactant. This contrast agent may become an important adjunct to the clinical evaluation of coronary arteries with CT.
authors.affiliation: Sinai Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute and Imaging Science Laboratories, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hyafil
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cornily
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Feig
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Esad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vucic
authors.forename: Vardan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Amirbekian
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fuster
authors.forename: Laurent J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Zahi A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Fayad
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine; D007700:Kinetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D053758:Nanoparticles; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007455:Iodine