In vivo targeted molecular imaging for activated platelets by mri using USPIO-fucoidan in rat abdominal aortic aneuryms model

Abstract

Background P-selectin, expressed on the activated platelets and endothelial cells, is one of the key adhesion molecules that regulate leukocyte trafficking in atherosclerosis. The natural and canonical ligand of selectins is a specific tetrasaccharide structure known as 6-sulfo sialyl Lewis X (SLeX). Fucoidans refer to a type of polysaccharide that contains L-fucose and sulfate ester groups, mainly derived from brown seaweed, and binds strongly to P-selectin. We assessed the hypothesis that a new MRI contrast agent made of fucoidan conjugated with ultra small paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) can demonstrate the presence of activated platelets in thrombus of an expanding aneurysm.