Bioengineered H-Ferritin Nanocages for Quantitative Imaging of Vulnerable Plaques in Atherosclerosis

• DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b04158
• Publication Date: 2018-08-30T22:31:15Z
• Authors: Minmin Liang; Hui Tan; Jun Zhou; Tao Wang; Demin Duan; Kelong Fan; Jiuyang He; Dengfeng Cheng; Hongcheng Shi; Hak Soo Choi; Xiyun Yan
• Keywords: Nanocages; Infiltration (HVAC); Vulnerable plaque

Inflammation and calcification concomitantly drive atherosclerotic plaque progression rupture are the compelling targets for identifying vulnerability. However, current imaging modalities vulnerable plaques often limited by inadequate specificity sensitivity. Here, we show that natural H-ferritin nanocages radiolabeled with technetium-99m (99mTc-HFn) can identify accurately localize macrophage-rich, in living mice using combined SPECT CT. Focal 99mTc-HFn uptake was observed multiple high-risk features of macrophage infiltration, active calcification, positive remodeling, necrosis on histology early ongoing lesions intense infiltration. The enabled quantitative measuring dynamic changes inflammation during anti-inflammation treatment. This strategy lays foundation bioengineered endogenous human ferritin identification as well potential assessment therapy.