Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Engineering a rod-shaped viral nanoparticle to detect atherosclerotic plaques with MRI

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy

October 27-29, 2014 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, USA

Michael A Bruckman and Nicole F Steinmetz

Accepted Abstracts: J Stem Cell Res Ther

Abstract:

Atherosclerosis, inflammation of the arteries, is the underlying cause of most deadly cardiac events, such as stroke and heart attacks. Early and non-invasive diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaques will lead to better patient outcomes. Nanoparticles are ideal platforms for disease diagnosis and treatment, because they can be tailored to carry a large payload of contrast agents to specific cells and tissues. We have turned towards the nanoparticles derived from plant viruses. These viral nanoparticles provide an excellent platform to deliver cargos because they are highly monodisperse, capable of undergoing chemical and genetic modification, easily attainable, and designed by nature to deliver cargo to cells. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) presents a robust, rod-shaped platform measuring 300x18 nm with a 4 nm central channel.Here, TMV istargeted towards vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) receptors that are overexpressed on dysfunctional endothelial cells lining the lumen of atherosclerotic plaques using specific oligopeptides. Targeted TMV particles were injected into ApoE-/- mice on a high fat diet that are susceptible to developing atherosclerotic plaques. A combination of in vivo magnetic resonance and ex vivo optical imaging of aortas indicated superior accumulation of VCAM-TMV over PEG-TMV at areas of plaque. Interestingly, magnetic resonance imaging of plaques was possible using 400 times lower than standard injection of paramagnetic contrast agent. In conclusion, we have engineered a rod-shaped viral nanoparticle capable of targeting atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice.