Entwicklung und Evaluierung neuer niedrig-molekularer Sonden für die Charakterisierung von Gefäßerkrankungen mittels der Magnetresonanztomographie

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Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the western world. Atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms are among the leading causes of mortality in industrialised and developing nations. The arterial vessel wall plays a crucial role in the onset and development of these pathologies. The prolonged course of subclinical and asymptomatic disease opens a diagnostic window before symptoms or life threatening complications can occur. This project investigates the hypothesis that the in vivo assessment of the arterial vessel wall on a molecular level will allow a biological characterisation of early pathological vessel wall changes and thereby improve the staging of vascular diseases and enable more accurate monitoring of therapy response. To achieve this aim, novel small molecular probes for detection with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be developed and investigated in different disease models. Probes will first be characterised in vitro and in vivo concerning their binding and pharmacokinetic properties. Subsequently, the role of the targeted proteins during the development of atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms will be investigated in vivo with these probes. The focus of this project will be on the evaluation of the usefulness of these probes for early disease detection, staging of disease development and monitoring of response to treatment.