Photosensitizer delivery to vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque: comparison of macrophage-targeted conjugate versus free chlorine(e6)

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Abstract
Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries are a leading cause of death and disease due to their propensity to rupture and cause thrombosis and myocardial infarction.1 These rupture-prone plaques are characterized by large necrotic lipid cores, thin fibrous caps, and dense macrophage infiltration.2 Because a large proportion of these plaques are nonstenotic (less than 60% narrowing of the lumen), they are frequently nonsymptomatic. In recent years, a plethora of methods have been devised in an attempt to detect them before a catastrophic rupture occurs.3 These detection methods include both invasive modalities that require cardiac catheterization and noninvasive imaging methods. Examples of the former invasive techniques include intravascular ultrasound,4 optical coherence tomography,5 intravascular thermography,6 and near-infrared spectroscopy.7 Examples of noninvasive techniques include multislice x-ray computed tomography,8 magnetic resonance imaging,9 electron-beam imaging of calcium deposits,10 and 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose mediated positron emission tomography.11