Selective Imaging and Eradication of Activated Macrophages Using Bio-conjugated Plasmon-resonant Gold Nanorods

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CBET-0828832ChengThis proposal aims to develop a method that employs functionalized gold nanorods as an imaging and photothermal agent to target and eradicate macrophages in an atherosclerotic plaque by near infrared laser irradiation. preliminary studies have demonstrated two-photon luminescence imaging and optical hyperthermia of activated primary macrophages in vitro by gold nanorods conjugated with octaarginine (R8) peptides. By controlling the laser power and irradiation time, they have been able to induce apoptosis of macrophages confirmed by annexin V staining. The hypothesis is that laser irradiation of nanorods accumulated in a plaque could induce apoptosis of macrophages with minimal toxicity to the rest of the body. This hypothesis will be tested at the in vivo level using ApoE deficient mice with the following objectives. (1) Functionalize gold nanorods for prolonged blood circulation time and selective targeting to macrophages in an atherosclerotic plaque. (2) Determine the blood residence time, biodistribution, and organ toxicity of functionalized gold nanorods. (3) Optical hyperthermia of macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE deficient mice.