动脉粥样硬化斑块是导致多种心血管疾病的重要因素之一。现阶段，大多数针对动脉粥样硬化斑块的分子探针存在靶向性差和功能单一等缺点，限制了分子影像在心血管疾病诊断中的应用。为解决以上问题，本课题将提升探针靶向性及功能性作为研究目标。针对斑块巨噬细胞大量浸润，新生血管增加及IV型胶原暴露等病理特征，设计了同时靶向叶酸受体、整合素αvβ3受体及IV型胶原三个关键靶点的放射性核素标记新探针，以增加探针的靶向性，从而获得更好的成像质量。在多靶向融合概念的基础上，分别以树枝状聚乙烯亚胺及水溶性线型壳聚糖为骨架，引入多模态成像策略，实现对斑块微结构及稳定性的精准评估。本课题有望构建针对动脉粥样硬化斑块的多靶标及多模态可视化成像平台，从而实现动脉粥样硬化疾病的早期诊疗和预后评估，最终达到降低心血管疾病死亡率的目的。

Atherosclerosis is one of the leading contributors for a majority of fatal cardiovascular diseases. While, current imaging probes for plaque detection are often limited by singleness of function and deficiency of target. As a consequence, there is an urgent need to develop multitarget and multimodal agents for improving targeting and function. Previous studies have shown that multiply of inflammatory macrophages, angiogenesis and IV collagen exposure are directly related to the formation process of atherosclerosis. Herein, this study is aimed to design and develop novel radiolabeled probes, which could target folate receptor, integrin αvβ3 and IV collagen of atherosclerosis. This flexible strategy allows more targeting moieties for various receptors to be incorporated simultaneously to improve target ability of probes. Further, we develop a multimodal imaging platform using hyperbranched polyethylenimine and water-soluble chitosan as molecular skeletons, which give advantages to potential advances for accurate assessment of microstructure and stability of plaques. Based on the development of radiolabeled probes, we propose a visible research platform for multi-targets and multi-mode detection of atherosclerosis. The results of this research project will provide early diagnosis and therapy monitoring of atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.