Infrared molecular imaging of infarcted myocardium using rare earth nanoparticles and click chemistry

Fluorescence imaging using antibody-functionalized luminescent nanoparticles has shown promise for in vivo imaging of infarcted tissues; however, challenges such as suboptimal antibody orientation, increased hydrodynamic size, and reduced circulation times affect their targeting efficiency, hindering their clinical application. In this study, we propose to address these limitations by combining a pretargeting strategy with the overexpression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-I) in infarcted myocardium, the sharp emission lines of infrared-emitting neodymium/ytterbium co-doped nanoparticles, and hyperspectral imaging technology. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated through ex vivo experiments and autofluorescence-free imaging of beating hearts, highlighting its potential as a high-contrast, non-invasive tool for myocardial infarction diagnosis.