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Updated: May 9, 2026

Generation and 3-Dimensional Quantitation of Arterial Lesions in Mice Using Optical Projection Tomography
Published on: May 26, 2015
Magnetomotive optical coherence tomography for the assessment of atherosclerotic lesions using αvβ3 integrin-targeted
Jongsik Kim1, Adeel Ahmad, Marina Marjanovic
1Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
Purpose:
We investigated the early-stage fatty streaks/plaques detection using magnetomotive optical coherence tomography (MM-OCT) in conjunction with αvβ3 integrin-targeted magnetic microspheres (MSs). The targeting of functionalized MSs was investigated by perfusing ex vivo aortas from an atherosclerotic rabbit model in a custom-designed flow chamber at physiologically relevant pulsatile flow rates and pressures.
Procedures:
Aortas were extracted and placed in a flow chamber. Magnetic MS contrast agents were perfused through the aortas and MM-OCT, fluorescence confocal, and bright field microscopy were performed on the ex vivo aorta specimens for localizing the MSs.
Results:
The results showed a statistically significant and stronger MM-OCT signal (3.30 ± 1.73 dB) from the aorta segment perfused with targeted MSs, compared with the nontargeted MSs (1.18 ± 0.94 dB) and control (0.78 ± 0.41 dB) aortas. In addition, there was a good co-registration of MM-OCT signals with confocal microscopy.
Conclusions:
Early-stage fatty streaks/plaques have been successfully detected using MM-OCT in conjunction with αvβ3 integrin-targeted magnetic MSs.
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