Invasive imaging technologies: can we reconcile light and sound?

Emerging near-infrared targeting diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

Ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (ICCDs), including thrombosis, ischemic stroke and atherosclerosis, represent a significant threat to human health, and there is an urgent requirement for the implementation of emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to improve symptoms and prognosis. As a promising noninvasive modality offering high spatial and temporal resolution with favorable biocompatible properties, near-infrared (NIR) light has demonstrated a vast and profound potential in the biomedical field in recent years. Meanwhile, nanomedicine carriers are undergoing rapid development due to their high specific surface area, elevated drug loading capacity, and unique physicochemical properties. The combination of NIR light with targeted nanoprobes modified with different functional components not only maintains the high penetration depth of NIR irradiation in biological tissues but also significantly enhances the targeting specificity at the lesion site. This strategy allows for the realization of on-demand drug release and photothermal effects, thus inspiring promising avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of ICCDs. However, the clinical translation of NIR imaging and therapy is still hindered by significant obstacles. The existing literature has provided a comprehensive overview of the advancements in NIR-based nanomedicine research. However, there is a notable absence of reviews that summarize the NIR-mediated targeting strategies against ICCDs in imaging and therapy. Therefore, this review concludes the application of the emerging targeting probes combined with NIR radiation for ICCDs classified by molecular targets, analyzes the current challenges, and provides improvement strategies and prospects for further clinical translation. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (ICCDs) represent a significant threat to human health. Recently, near-infrared (NIR) light combined with targeting probes have been employed for the diagnosis and treatment of ICCDs, offering exceptional advantages including rapid feedback, high penetration depth, on-demand drug release, and favorable biocompatibility. However, there is a notable absence of reviews that summarize the NIR light-mediated targeting strategies for the imaging and therapy of ICCDs. Therefore, this review summarizes the emerging targeting probes combined with NIR light classified by molecular targets, and the proposes potential improvement strategies for clinical translation. This review elucidates the potential and current status of NIR-based techniques in ICCDs, while also serving as a reference point for additional targeted therapeutic strategies for ICCDs.

A novel model of atherosclerosis in rabbits using injury to arterial walls induced by ferric chloride as evaluated by optical coherence tomography as well as intravascular ultrasound and histology

This study aim was to develop a new model of atherosclerosis by FeCl₃-induced injury to right common carotid arteries (CCAs) of rabbits. Right CCAs were induced in male New Zealand White rabbits (n = 15) by combination of a cholesterol-rich diet and FeCl₃-induced injury to arterial walls. The right and left CCAs were evaluated by histology and in vivo intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations of 24 hours (n = 3), 8 weeks (n = 6), and 12 weeks (n = 6) after injury. Each right CCA of the rabbits showed extensive white-yellow plaques. At eight and 12 weeks after injury, IVUS, OCT, and histological findings demonstrated that the right CCAs had evident eccentric plaques. Six plaques (50%) with evident positive remodeling were observed. Marked progression was clearly observed in the same plaque at 12 weeks after injury when it underwent repeat OCT and IVUS. We demonstrated, for the first time, a novel model of atherosclerosis induced by FeCl₃. The model is simple, fast, inexpensive, and reproducible and has a high success rate. The eccentric plaques and remodeling of plaques were common in this model. We successfully carried out IVUS and OCT examinations twice in the same lesion within a relatively long period of time.