Development of Nanoparticle Probes for In Vivo Imaging of Atherosclerotic Plaques

Atherosclerosis, the formation of fatty plaques in the arterial lumen, is mediated by inflammatory macrophage infiltration in the lesion and ingestion of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), forming foam cells. Its progression will likely form a large necrotic core and fibrotic cap surface defects. The resulting intraplaque hemorrhage causes red blood cell infiltration and hemoglobin abundance, which oxidizes LDL to form cholesterol crystal aggregates (1). Hemorrhagic plaques could rupture and form artery-blocking emboli. Thus, it is critical to develop a tool to detect and locate unstable hemorrhagic plaques in live specimens.