title: Inflammation-targeted gold nanorods for intravascular photoacoustic imaging detection of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) in atherosclerotic plaques.
abstract: Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) is one of the clinical features of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques. Many methods such as fluorescence imaging methods have been used to detect MMP2for evaluating plaque vulnerability. However, so far no imaging method has been able to resolve the expression of MMP2with high fidelity and resolution beyond microscopic depths. In this study, gold nanorods conjugated with MMP2antibody (AuNRs-Abs) were developed as a highly efficient photoacoustic imaging (PAI) probe for mapping MMP2in atherosclerotic plaques. AuNRs-Abs could specifically target MMP2as demonstrated by scanning electron microscope and immunofluorescence imaging. After labeling with AuNRs-Abs, area of distribution of MMP2from the surface to the depths of the atherosclerotic plaques was revealed using intravascular PAI. AuNRs-Abs has the ability to enable quantitative detection of MMP2in atherosclerotic plaques.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: yangsh@scnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Sihua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: xingda@scnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xing
mesh_terms: D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D043942:Nanotubes; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
keywords: Atherosclerosis inflammation; Photoacoustic imaging; Targeted gold nanorods