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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Cardiovasc Imaging Rep. 2012 Nov 29;6(1):61–68. doi: 10.1007/s12410-012-9182-0

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Theranostic imaging with molecular MRI. (A-C) Liposomes loaded with prednisolone are taken up by the macrophages in atherosclerotic plaque. The anti-inflammatory affect of the liposomes can be demonstrated by dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI and with PET imaging of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) [37]. (A) Signal intensity in the plaque is significantly higher on DCE before the injection of the liposomes (A) compared to 1 week after their injection (B). (C) Likewise FDG uptake (arrows) in the plaque is significantly reduced after the injection of liposomes. (D) Molecular MRI with Gd-loaded liposomes targeting the αvβ3 integrin [38]. The liposomes in the left column also contain the anti-angiogenic agent fumagillin. Repeat injection 1 week after the initial injection shows a marked reduction in the uptake of the targeted liposomes only in those animals initially injected with the fumagillin-containg liposomes. Reproduced with permission [37, 38].