Gold nanorods as absorption contrast agents for the noninvasive detection of arterial vascular disorders based on diffusion reflection measurements.
In this study we report the use of gold nanorods (GNRs) as absorption contrast agents in the diffusion reflection (DR) method for the in vivo detection of atherosclerotic injury. The early detection and characterization of atherosclerotic vascular disease is considered to be one of the greatest medical challenges today. We show that macrophage cells, which are major components of unstable active atherosclerotic plaques, uptake gold nanoparticles, resulting in a change in the optical properties of tissue-like phantoms and a unique DR profile. In vivo DR measurements of rats that underwent injury of the carotid artery showed a clear difference between the DR profiles of the injured compared with healthy arteries. The results suggest that DR measurements following GNRs administration represent a potential novel method for the early detection of atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Faculty of Engineering and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel.
Rinat
R
Ankri
Dorit
D
Leshem-Lev
Dror
D
Fixler
Rachela
R
Popovtzer
Menachem
M
Motiei
Ran
R
Kornowski
Edith
E
Hochhauser
Eli I
EI
Lev
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats
D003287:Contrast Media; D006046:Gold