Development of a PET/optical dual-modality imaging agent for the early detection of venerable plaques

• Project/Area Number: 16K19805
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Radiation science
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Yamaguchi Aiko 群馬大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 寄附講座等教員 (80609032)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
• Keywords: PET / 蛍光 / 動脈硬化 / 不安定プラーク / マクロファージ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project aims to develop a mannnosylated dextran derivative (DCM10)-based PET/optical dual-modality imaging probe targeting macrophage mannose receptor in the venerable plaques. An acid activatable fluorescent-labeled DCM10 showed high accumulation in both macrophage cells and atherosclerotic lesion in apolipoprotein E knock out mice. Positron emission tomography imaging with a positron emitter (Cu-64)-labeled DCM10 demonstrated clear uptake in coronary artery region of an atherosclerosis model mouse. These results suggest DCM10 warrants further evaluation as a PET/optical dual-modality imaging probe for the detection of venerable plaques.