Polyethylene glycol-modified dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles enhance CT imaging of blood pool in atherosclerotic mice

Abstract

We report a new use of dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles (Au DENPs) modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) with good biocompatibility for in vitro and in vivo imaging of atherosclerotic mice by computed tomography (CT). In this study, Au DENPs were synthesized using poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers of generation 5 (G5.NH2) modified by PEG monomethyl ether (G5.NH2-mPEG20) as templates. In vitro cytotoxicity and flow cytometry assays show that the formed PEGylated Au DENPs have good biocompatibility and are non-cytotoxic at the Au concentration up to 300 μM. Silver staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) further confirm that the Au DENPs are able to be uptaken by macrophages and are located dominantly in the lysosomes of the cells. Importantly, the formed PEGylated Au DENPs are able to be used for CT imaging of murine macrophages in vitro and macrophages in atherosclerotic mice in vivo using apolipoprotein-E-gene-deficient mice as a model. These findings suggest that the formed PEGylated Au DENPs are a promising contrast agent for CT imaging of atherosclerosis.

Dendrimer antibody conjugate to target and image HER-2 overexpressing cancer cells

“…The capabilities of CT and MRI are dependent on the characteristics of their respective contrast agents such as length of circulation time, biocompatibility, and x-ray attenuation or relaxivity [13, 14]. The use of CT in particular has been improved using contrast agents better than popular iodine based ionic and non-ionic agents [15–17]. These improvements to CT stem in part from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which offer increased resolution and contrast because of their higher X-ray attenuation factor [18, 19].…”

“…These improvements to CT stem in part from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which offer increased resolution and contrast because of their higher X-ray attenuation factor [18, 19]. Furthermore, AuNPs in a variety of instances, including encapsulation within dendrimers, have also been shown to possess heightened biocompatibility and stability [15, 20, 21]. With regard to MRI, Gadolinium (Gd) chelated into 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) is a long recognized contrast agent because of its unique soft tissue resolving capabilities [22, 23].…”

Applications of high magnetic field in interventional medical treatment

“…目前国际上公认, 早发现早治疗是应对癌 (photoacoustic, PA)等, 其优缺点如表1所示 [28] . 随着最近20年来纳米科技的飞速发展, 以聚合物微 球 [29] 、微乳球 [30] 、脂质体 [31] 、纳米碳颗粒 [32] 、纳米 金颗粒 [33] , 以及纳米磁性颗粒 [34] 为主体的多种具有 精巧结构、 适中尺寸并兼具多种功能的纳米颗粒在许 [41] .…”

<p>EGFP-EGF1-conjugated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, a new diagnostic tool and drug carrier for atherosclerosis</p>

“…In recent years, there has been a rapid development in using nanoparticle (NP) technique as a tool for molecular imaging of atherosclerotic lesion. [19][20][21] By incorporating peptides, antibodies, or other ligands on its surface, a NP can target adhesion molecules in lesion components. 22 Engineered supramolecular micelles targeting cellular components in atherosclerotic plaques, such as monocytes, exhibit promising characteristics for the diagnosis of the disease.…”