title: Dextran sulfate-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a contrast agent for atherosclerosis imaging.
abstract: The hallmark of atherosclerosis in its early pathogenic process is the overexpression of class A scavenger receptors (SR-A) by activated macrophages. In this study, dextran sulfate-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (DS-SPIONs), as a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent of atherosclerosis, was prepared via the facile co-precipitation method using a versatile double-hydrophilic block copolymer comprising of a DS segment (ligand for SR-A) and a poly(glyclerol methacrylate) segment (SPIONs surface-anchoring unit). The physicochemical properties of the DS-SPIONs were investigated using various instruments. DS-SPIONs exhibited high aqueous stability compared to dextran-coated SPIONs (Dex-SPIONs), which were used as controls. The cellular uptake behaviors of DS-SPIONs and Dex-SPIONs were evaluated using Prussian blue assay. Interestingly, the DS-SPIONs were effectively taken up by activated macrophages compared to Dex-SPIONs. However, the cellular uptake of DS-SPIONs by activated macrophages was remarkably reduced in the presence of free DS. These results suggest that activated macrophages internalize DS-SPIONs via receptor (SR-A)-mediated endocytosis. T2-weighted MR imaging of the cells demonstrated that activated macrophages treated with DS-SPIONs showed a significantly lower signal intensity compared to those treated with Dex-SPIONs. Overall, these results suggest that DS-SPIONs may be utilized as a potential contrast agent for atherosclerosis MR imaging.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Polymer Science and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea; Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 6, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Gil
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Gurusamy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saravanakumar
authors.forename: Soyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Hwa Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Roun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Kwangmeyung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ick Chan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jun Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001692:Biological Transport; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D059346:Magnets / Q000737:chemistry*; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D051117:Scavenger Receptors, Class A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008689:Methacrylates; D051117:Scavenger Receptors, Class A; C000499:ferric oxide; D016264:Dextran Sulfate
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Contrast agent; Dextran sulfate; Double hydrophilic copolymer; Magnetic resonance imaging