Atherosclerotic plaque composition: analysis with multicolor CT and targeted gold nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To investigate the potential of spectral computed tomography (CT) (popularly referred to as multicolor CT), used in combination with a gold high-density lipoprotein nanoparticle contrast agent (Au-HDL), for characterization of macrophage burden, calcification, and stenosis of atherosclerotic plaques.

Materials and methods

The local animal care committee approved all animal experiments. A preclinical spectral CT system in which incident x-rays are divided into six different energy bins was used for multicolor imaging. Au-HDL, an iodine-based contrast agent, and calcium phosphate were imaged in a variety of phantoms. Apolipoprotein E knockout (apo E-KO) mice were used as the model for atherosclerosis. Gold nanoparticles targeted to atherosclerosis (Au-HDL) were intrave

SUBMITTER: Cormode DP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2923725 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature