Targeted in vivo imaging of mouse hindlimb ischemia using fluorescent gelatin nanoparticles

Abstract

Critical limb ischemia is one of the most advanced forms of peripheral artery disease, which seriously threat the human health and even cause amputation. In this study, we developed a fluorescent gelatin nanoparticle (FGNP) by covalent conjugation of the nanoparticles with two fluorogens, Cy7 and rhodamine B. The FGNPs have a volume average hydrodynamic diameter of about 168 nm, which also show low cytotoxicity against NIH/3T3 normal cells. The in vivo ischemia bioimaging studies in live mice and in ischemic limb slices demonstrate that the FGNPs can be preferentially accumulated to the ischemic site, which can thus serve as a safe and effective probe for targeted visualization of ischemia in the limb. © 2015 Ju Zhang et al.