Ligands Designed for Targeting Nanoparticles Differentiate Normal and Atherosclerotic Tissue

摘要

The ability to target specific tissues, normal and disease-state, is a critical component for developing nano-scale particles that can detect, analyse, and deliver drugs to the desired location. This study has demonstrated that antibody-based ligands can be used to differentially bind endothelium in the disease-state, i.e. atherosclerotic plaque. Future studies extending from this research will explore the binding potential of ligands to other disease-state endothelial markers, such as inflammatory, thrombogenic, and cell-cell/cell-extracellular matrix adhesion markers. This targeting approach is particularly relevant to nanoparticle design, since it provides both a vascular pathway and disease-specific target for their localization and subsequent detection in vivo.