title: Use of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles for imaging carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: Based on the results of histopathological studies, inflammation within atherosclerotic tissue is now widely accepted as a key determinant of the disease process. Conventional imaging methods can highlight the location and degree of luminal stenosis but not the inflammatory activity of the plaque. Iron oxide-based MRI contrast media particularly ultrasmall supermagnetic particles of iron oxide have shown potential in assessing atheromatous plaque inflammation and in determining efficacy of antiatherosclerosis pharmacological treatments. In this paper, we review current data on the use of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides in atherosclerosis imaging with focus on ferumoxtran-10 and ferumoxytol. The basic chemistry, pharmacokinetics and dynamics, potential applications, limitations and future perspectives of these contrast media nanoparticles are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Box 218, Level 5, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Ammara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Vascular Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sadat
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Box 218, Level 5, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tjun Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Vascular Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Varty
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Vascular Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, NR4 7UY, UK.
authors.forename: Mathew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Armon
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Vascular Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Box 218, Level 5, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Box 218, Level 5, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gillard
keywords: MRI; USPIO; atherosclerosis; cellular imaging; ferumoxtran-10; ferumoxytol; inflammation; iron oxide; nanoparticle