Brigit den Adel1,
2, Sandra Bovens3, Ernst Suidgeest4, Gustav J.
Strijkers5, Gerard Pasterkamp3, Robert E. Poelmann2,
Louise van der Weerd6, 7
1Pathology,
Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 2Anatomy, Leiden
University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands; 3Cardiology,
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 4Radiology,
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands; 5Biomedical
Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands; 6Radiology
, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands; 7Human
Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
This study shows the theragnostic imaging and treatment of atherosclerotis in ApoE-/- and ApoE-/-eNOS-/- mice. The application of non-invasive molecular imaging to monitor drug delivery and therapeutic responses. Rosiglitazone was incorporated in micelles to improve targeting to plaques and reduce the well-known side effects of this drug. Atherosclerotic lesions were reduced after micelle-mediated rosiglitazone therapy, while avoiding the negative side effects associated with conventional rosiglitazone treatment.