Figure 3.
CMR image enhancement with ανβ3-targeted nanoparticles correlates to the density of angiogenic microvessels. CMR molecular imaging of angiogenesis with ανβ3-targeted paramagnetic nanoparticles was directly related to histological measurement of microvessel density in atherosclerotic rabbits. The number of microvessels expressing both ανβ3-integrin and platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), a general vascular marker, were counted in aortic sections. The microvessel density was correlated in a logarithmic fashion (R2 = 0.84) to the CMR signal enhancement observed after injection of ανβ3-targeted particles. Reprinted with permission from Winter, et al [55].