CD163 is a membrane receptor expressed by macrophage lineage. Studies performed in atherosclerosis have shown that CD163 expression is increased at inflammatory sites, pointing at the presence of intraplaque hemorrhagic sites or asymptomatic plaques. Hence, imaging of CD163 expressing macrophages is an interesting strategy in order to detect atherosclerotic plaques. We have prepared a targeted probe based on gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles vectorized with an anti-CD163 antibody for the specific detection of CD163 by MRI. Firstly, the specificity of the targeted probe was validated in vitro by incubation of the probe with CD163(+) or (−) macrophages. The probe was able to selectively detect CD163(+) macrophages both in human and murine cells. Subsequently, the targeted probe was injected in 16 weeks old apoE deficient mice developing atherosclerotic lesions and the pararenal abdominal aorta was imaged by MRI. The accumulation of probe in the site of interest increased over time and the signal intensity decreased significantly 48 hours after the injection. Hence, we have developed a highly sensitive targeted probe capable of detecting CD163-expressing macrophages that could provide useful information about the state of the atheromatous lesions.

A versatile nanoplatform based on magnetic glyconanoparticles (glyco-ferrites) to attach well-oriented antibodies is described. An efficient ligand exchange process has been used to prepare water-soluble 6-nm-sized core-shell Fe(3)O(4)@Au nanoparticles bearing amphiphilic carbohydrates and aliphatic ethylene glycol chains ended in a carboxyl group. The covalent immobilization through the carboxyl group of an Fc receptor (protein G) enables successful well-oriented capture of immunoglobulins G onto the magnetic glyconanoparticle. A thorough characterization of structure and biofunctionality of the constructs is carried out by different techniques. The selective immunolabeling of cells by the antibody-magnetic glyconanoparticle conjugates is demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as by fluorescence techniques.

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