Lisette Helene Deddens1, Geralda A. Van
Tilborg1, Annette Van Der Toorn1, Leonie E. Paulis2,
Gustav J. Strijkers2, Klaas Nicolay2, Gert Storm3,
Willem J. Mulder4, Helga E. De Vries5, Rick M.
Dijkhuizen1
1Image Sciences Institute,
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 2Biomedical
NMR, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of
Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands; 3Biopharmacy &
Pharmaceutical Techonology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; 4Translational
& Molecular Imaging Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York,
United States; 5Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, VU
University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Neuroinflammation is significantly involved in stroke pathophsiology, but underlying processes are still largely unraveled. Specific multimodal imaging probes may help to elucidate the pattern and contribution of distinct neuroinflammatory events, which eventually could make way for new or improved anti-inflammatory treatment strategies. We developed a liposomal contrast agent with paramagnetic and fluorescent lipids, targeted at intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), which is upregulated on inflamed cerebrovascular endothelium and a potential marker of (sub)acute neuroinflammation. Our preliminary data demonstrate that anti-ICAM1-liposomes specifically bind to inflamed vasculature 24-48h after stroke in mice, which can be detected with MRI and fluorescent microscopy.
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