A nanoparticle does double duty, imaging and treating atherosclerosis

Better than this?

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Or this?

Shear-Activated Nanoparticle Aggregates Combined With Temporary Endovascular Bypass to Treat Large Vessel Occlusion

 But we will never know because we have NO leaders to ask these simple questions of and NO way to update our missing stroke strategy.

A nanoparticle does double duty, imaging and treating atherosclerosis

Note to journalists: Please report that this research will be presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Released: 29-Feb-2016 11:45 PM EST
Embargo expired: 13-Mar-2016 5:00 AM EDT
Source Newsroom: American Chemical Society (ACS) 
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CONTACT:
Shanta Dhar, Ph.D.
The University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706-542-2012
Email: shanta@uga.edu
Title
Self-therapeutic HDL mimicking nanoparticles for detection of atherosclerotic plaques
Abstract
Plaque build up inside arteries due to excessive cholesterol deposition is the hallmark of atherosclerotic heart disease [1]. Early detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques could prove to be highly useful for diagnosis and therapy of the disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one such techniques that can be employed for efficient detection of plaques [2]. With these objectives in mind, we have designed iron oxide loaded high density lipoprotein (HDL) mimicking nanoparticles [3] that not only enables MR imaging of atherosclerotic plaques but also are capable of removing cholesterol and triglyceride from the body. These nanoparticles were impregnated with suitable surface functionalities so that they can target macrophages selectively and thus can enhance MRI contrast. The technology described here uses biocompatible polymers and lipids for the construction of a HDL mimicking biodegradable nanoparticle and it could be a potent theranostic tool for coronary heart diseases.

1. Ross, R., The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: a perspective for the 1990s. Nature, 1993. 362(6423): p. 801-809.
2. Fleg, J.L., et al., Detection of High-Risk Atherosclerotic Plaque: Report of the NHLBI Working Group on Current Status and Future Directions. JACC. Cardiovascular imaging, 2012. 5(9): p. 941-955.
3. Marrache, S. and S. Dhar, Biodegradable synthetic high-density lipoprotein nanoparticles for atherosclerosis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013. 110(23): p. 9445-9450