Interaction of cowpea mosaic virus nanoparticles with surface vimentin and inflammatory cells in atherosclerotic lesions.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Detection of atherosclerosis has generally been limited to the late stages of development, after cardiovascular symptoms present or a clinical event occurs. One possibility for early detection is the use of functionalized nanoparticles. The aim of this study was the early imaging of atherosclerosis using nanoparticles with a natural affinity for inflammatory cells in the lesion.

Materials & methods

We investigated uptake of cowpea mosaic virus by macrophages and foam cells in vitro and correlated this with vimentin expression. We also examined the ability of cowpea mosaic virus to interact with atherosclerotic lesions in a murine model of atherosclerosis.

Results & conclusion

We found that uptake of cowpea mosaic virus is increased in areas of atherosclerotic les

SUBMITTER: Plummer EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3567616 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature