title: Amphiphilic protein micelles for targeted in vivo imaging.
abstract: A variety of polymeric nanoparticles have been developed for bioimaging applications. This study reports on the use of a 50 nm recombinant protein nanoparticle with a multivalent surface as a vehicle for functionalization with a model imaging agent. Multiple fluorescent probes were covalently conjugated to surface amines of crosslinked amphiphilic elastin-mimetic protein micelles using N-hydroxysuccinimide ester chemistry. In vivo fluorescence imaging confirmed that protein micelles selectively accumulated at sites of angioplasty induced vessel wall injury, presumably via an enhanced permeability and retention effect. This investigation demonstrates the potential of amphiphilic protein micelles to be used as a vehicle for selective imaging of sites associated with a disrupted or leaky endothelium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Wookhyun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Elliot L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Chaikof
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005070:Evans Blue; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008823:Micelles; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008823:Micelles; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D005070:Evans Blue; D004549:Elastin