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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Synthesis of an In vivo MRI-detectable Apoptosis Probe
Published on: July 31, 2012
Imaging of apoptosis in the heart with nanoparticle technology
Howard H Chen1, Lee Josephson, David E Sosnovik
1Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
Abstract:
Apoptosis plays an important role in the loss of cardiomyocytes in both ischemic injury and heart failure. Pioneering work with single photon emission computed tomography imaging of (99)Tc-annexin showed that cell death in the heart could be imaged in vivo. Over the last 5 years a significant amount of experience with annexin-labeled magnetic nanoparticles, principally AnxCLIO-Cy5.5, has also been gained. Here, we review the experience with AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 in the heart and compare this experience to that of earlier studies with (99)Tc-annexin. The imaging of apoptosis with AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 provides valuable insights not only into molecular imaging in the heart but, more broadly, into the use of nanoparticle technology for molecular imaging in general.
Insights
Imaging apoptosis in the heart using AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 magnetic nanoparticles offers valuable insights into cell death and nanoparticle technology for molecular imaging.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Molecular Imaging
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Apoptosis is crucial in cardiomyocyte loss during ischemic injury and heart failure.
- Early in vivo imaging of cardiac cell death utilized (99)Tc-annexin with single photon emission computed tomography.
- Significant experience has been gained with annexin-labeled magnetic nanoparticles, specifically AnxCLIO-Cy5.5, over the past five years.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the experience with AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 for cardiac imaging.
- To compare AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 imaging with earlier (99)Tc-annexin studies.
- To highlight the broader implications of nanoparticle technology in molecular imaging.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies using AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 for cardiac apoptosis imaging.
- Comparison of AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 data with historical (99)Tc-annexin imaging data.
Main Results:
- AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 has been extensively used for imaging apoptosis in the heart.
- Experience with AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 provides a foundation for understanding nanoparticle applications in cardiac molecular imaging.
Conclusions:
- AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 imaging offers valuable insights into cardiac apoptosis.
- This technology advances the broader field of nanoparticle-based molecular imaging.
