Fig. 6.
A CT-based molecular imaging nanoparticle was developed as blood pool and myocardial scar specific imaging contrast agent. Management of patients suffering from myocardial infarction is based on the extent of coronary artery stenosis and myocardial scar burden. (Upper panel) Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with collagen-binding adhesion protein 35 (CNA35) play the vascular imaging role at early phase and molecular imaging at late phase. (Lower panel) Animal experiment demonstrated a specific myocardial infaction imaging at 6 hours after injection (A). Control rat with myocardial infarction after injection of AuNPs (B) and rat without myocardial infaction after injection of CNA35-AuNPs (C) did not generate specific CT enhancement. This nanoparticle demonstrates a potential use for coronary artery imaging and myocardial infarction evaluation. Reproduced with permission.173 Copyright 2018. Elsevier.