title: Nanoparticles for optical molecular imaging of atherosclerosis.
abstract: Molecular imaging contributes to future personalized medicine dedicated to the treatment of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in industrialized countries. Endoscope-compatible optical imaging techniques would offer a stand-alone alternative and high spatial resolution validation technique to clinically accepted imaging techniques in the (intravascular) assessment of vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions, which are predisposed to initiate acute clinical events. Efficient optical visualization of molecular epitopes specific for vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions requires targeting of high-quality optical-contrast-enhancing particles. In this review, we provide an overview of both current optical nanoparticles and targeting ligands for optical molecular imaging of atherosclerotic lesions and speculate on their applicability in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. k.douma@bf.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Douma
authors.forename: Lenneke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prinzen
authors.forename: Dick W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Slaaf
authors.forename: Chris P M
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Reutelingsperger
authors.forename: Erik A L
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Biessen
authors.forename: Tilman M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hackeng
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Marc A M J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Zandvoort
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000639:trends*; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000639:trends; D053758:Nanoparticles; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media