Nanoparticle PET imaging of natriuretic peptide clearance receptor in a rabbit atherosclerosis model

1789 Objectives The goal of this study was to utilize C-type atrial natriuretic factor (CANF) conjugated Comb-like nanoparticle to image the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor (NPR-C) up-regulated in a rabbit atherosclerosis model and demonstrate the superiority of nanoparticle in molecular imaging. Methods CANF peptide was conjugated to Comb-like nanoparticle to target the NPR-C receptor expressed at atherosclerotic plaque in a double-injured rabbit model with the non-CANF conjugated Comb-like nanoparticle as control. The CANF-Comb and Comb were radiolabeled with 64Cu in 0.1M pH 5.5 NH4OAc buffer and purified with size exclusion spin columns. PET imaging were performed at 1h, 4h and 24h after injection of 64Cu labeled nanoparticles. The expression of NPR-C receptor was characterized with Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Competitive PET and IHC receptor blocking studies were also performed. Results PET imaging illustrated significantly (p Conclusions The developed 64Cu-CANF-Comb nanoparticle provided sensitive and targeted molecular imaging for NPR-C receptor in vivo and is a candidate probe in for atherosclerosis PET imaging. Research Support This work is supported by the NHLBI Program of Excellence in Nanotechnology (HHSN268201000046C)