Sharma R.R.
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, US
Keywords: atherosclerosis, contrast agents, mice, molecular imaging, MRI, thrombosis
Nanotechnology involves working at the atomic, molecular, and macromolecular levels including imaging. Recently, four areas have emerged in cardiovascular imaging:
1.Targeted therapeutics: delivering drugs where they are needed; 2.Tissue engineering to replace defective valves, damaged heart muscle, clogged blood vessels; 3.Molecular imaging: using “smart” imaging agents in targeted therapeutics and molecular imaging; 4.Biosensors and myocardial diagnostics.
Several approaches of nanoparticles i.e. dendrimers, liposomes, polymer delivery molecules, cantilevers, nanoscaffolds, nanofibers are potential candidates in cardiac visualization. The extracellular matrix plays significant role by chemokines, cytokines and growth factors. The limitations of these emerging techniques and a new possibility of MRI visualization of mice cardiac atheroma by superparamagnetic iron-oxide gadolinium-apoferritin(SPIOA), myoglobin (SPIOM), for targeted functional and molecular imaging of atherosclerosis are main focus of this paper. These emerging techniques provide opportunity of tracking functional and structural changes in myocardium and heart tissue.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2006 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: May 7, 2006
Pages: 432 - 435
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Medical & Biotech
Topic: Diagnostics & Bioimaging
ISBN: 0-9767985-7-3