Intravascular near-infrared fluorescence molecular imaging of atherosclerosis: toward coronary arterial visualization of biologically high-risk plaques

J Biomed Opt. 2010 Jan-Feb;15(1):011107. doi: 10.1117/1.3280282.

Abstract

New imaging methods are urgently needed to identify high-risk atherosclerotic lesions prior to the onset of myocardial infarction, stroke, and ischemic limbs. Molecular imaging offers a new approach to visualize key biological features that characterize high-risk plaques associated with cardiovascular events. While substantial progress has been realized in clinical molecular imaging of plaques in larger arterial vessels (carotid, aorta, iliac), there remains a compelling, unmet need to develop molecular imaging strategies targeted to high-risk plaques in human coronary arteries. We present recent developments in intravascular near-IR fluorescence catheter-based strategies for in vivo detection of plaque inflammation in coronary-sized arteries. In particular, the biological, light transmission, imaging agent, and engineering principles that underlie a new intravascular near-IR fluorescence sensing method are discussed. Intravascular near-IR fluorescence catheters appear highly translatable to the cardiac catheterization laboratory, and thus may offer a new in vivo method to detect high-risk coronary plaques and to assess novel atherosclerosis biologics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arteritis / pathology
  • Catheterization / instrumentation
  • Contrast Media
  • Coronary Artery Disease / pathology*
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Humans
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Rabbits
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / instrumentation*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / instrumentation*
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / methods*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Fluorescent Dyes