LDL plays an important role in essential biological functions such as cholesterol transport and maintenance of cell membranes, but, LDL is also a defining factor in the progression of atherosclerosis and tumor growth. We have developed a method using gold nanoparticles and fluorophores to label LDL (AuLDL) (A, B), enabling the imaging of LDL and its bioprocesses including cholesterol metabolism, atherosclerotic plaque formation, and oncogenesis via TEM, CT, and fluorescence. We have shown that AuLDL is similar to native LDL with regard to oxidized protein content (C) and is taken up by cells in a receptor-mediated manner (D). The imaging capability of AuLDL using CT was confirmed using spectral CT to visualize the distribution of the particles in B16F10 tumor mice injected with AuLDL (E). Our results highlight the practicality of the gold nanoparticles in imaging and the versatility of the particles, creating potential for use in targeted therapies. Figure 1. <img src='https://acs-archive-assets2.s3.amazonaws.com/norm_rmrm/uploads/55925_2010_neuron_copyright.jpg' alt='' />

Gold labeled low density lipoprotein nanoparticles: Imaging lipoprotein biointeractions with CT, TEM, and fluorescence

244th National Meeting (2012)

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