Author/Authors :
Costagliola di Polidoro, Angela Department of Chemical - Materials Engineering & Industrial Production - University of Naples Federico II - Piazzale Tecchio - Naples, Italy , Grassia, Agnese Department of Chemical - Materials Engineering & Industrial Production - University of Naples Federico II - Piazzale Tecchio - Naples, Italy , De Sarno, Francesca Department of Chemical - Materials Engineering & Industrial Production - University of Naples Federico II - Piazzale Tecchio - Naples, Italy , Bevilacqua, Paolo via Gianturco - Naples, Italy , Mollo, Valentina Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)@CRIB - Largo Barsanti e Matteucci - Naples, Italy , Romano, Eugenia Department of Chemical - Materials Engineering & Industrial Production - University of Naples Federico II - Piazzale Tecchio - Naples, Italy , Donata Di Taranto, Maria Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies - University of Naples Federico II - via S. Pansini - Naples, Italy , Fortunato, Giuliana Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies - University of Naples Federico II - via S. Pansini - Naples, Italy , Marcello Bracale, Umberto Department of Public Health - University of Naples Federico II - via S. Pansini - Naples, Italy , Tramontano, Liberatore via Gianturco - Naples, Italy , Claudio Diomaiuti, Tommaso via Gianturco - Naples, Italy , Torino, Enza Department of Chemical - Materials Engineering & Industrial Production - University of Naples Federico II - Piazzale Tecchio - Naples, Italy
Abstract :
Despite the progress in cardiovascular research, atherosclerosis still represents the main cause of death worldwide. Clinically, the diagnosis
of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) relies on imaging methodologies including X-ray angiography and computed tomography (CT), which however still fails in the identification of patients at high risk of plaque rupture, the main cause of severe clinical
events as stroke and heart attack. Magnetic resonance imaging, which is characterized by very high spatial resolution, could provide a better
characterization of atherosclerotic plaque (AP) anatomy and composition, aiding in the identification of “vulnerable” plaques. In this
context, hydrogel matrices, which have been demonstrated able to boost relaxometric properties of Gd-based contrast agents (CAs) by the
effect of Hydrodenticity, represent a valuable tool towards the precision imaging of ASCVD improving the performance of this class of CAs
while reducing systemic toxicity. In particular, hydrogel nanoparticles encapsulating Gd-DTPA can further contribute to providing CAspecific accumulation in the AP by nanoparticle surface decoration triggering an active targeting of the AP with the overall effect of allowing
an earlier and more accurate diagnosis. In this work, we tested crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles (cHANPs) in the complex
environment of human atherosclerotic plaque. In addition, the surface of cHANPs was decorated with the antibody anti-CD36 (Ab36-
cHANPs) for the active targeting of AP-associated macrophages. Results demonstrate that the Hydrodenticity of cHANPs and Ab36-
cHANPs is preserved in this complex system and, preliminarily, that interaction of these probes with the AP is present.
Keywords :
Nanostrategies , Atherosclerosis , ASCVD , AP
