Figure 1.

Serial in vivo MRI of carotid arteries with RGD‐HFn‐Fe₃O₄ or HFn‐Fe₃O₄. A: The ligated left carotid arteries (red arrows) were smaller than the nonligated right carotid arteries (yellow arrows) prior to RGD‐HFn‐Fe₃O₄ or HFn‐Fe₃O₄ injection (Pre). After the injection, $T_2^{*}$ signal loss of the ligated left carotid artery was seen at 24 and 48 hours in both RGD⁺ and RGD^– mice, but was greater in RGD⁺ mice. Luminal area reduction was not seen in the control (nonligated) right carotid artery in either group. B: By quantitative analysis, the ligated left carotid artery showed significant percent reduction in lumen area (% lumen loss) at 24 and 48 hours in both RGD⁺ and RGD^– groups, but the % lumen loss of RGD⁺ group was significantly greater. The control right carotid artery showed minimal % lumen loss in both groups. *P < 0.001 vs. Pre, P < 0.001 vs. right carotid, †P = 0.02 vs. RGD^– group, ††P = 0.01 vs. RGD^– group, ‡P < 0.05 vs. Pre, P < 0.05 vs. right carotid.