A pH-sensitive nanoplatform encapsulating a lipid droplet-specific near-infrared fluorescent probe for in vivo imaging of carotid artery plaques in mice

Abstract

Effective real-time monitoring and tracking of lipid droplets (LDs) are essential for the precise diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaques and the assessment of pathological progression. However, viable strategies for in vivo LD-targeted imaging of atherosclerotic plaques are lacking. To address this issue, this study reported an LD-activated pH-responsive nanoplatform (ZY-P1-PMEA NPs) for the in vivo visualization of LDs in atherosclerotic plaques. This nanoplatform utilized a lysosome pH-responsive nanocarrier to specifically deliver the LD-specific probe into the plaques with a significantly improved pharmacokinetic profile. Once ZY-P1-PMEA NPs were internalized by cells via endocytosis, the encapsulated probe was rapidly released due to the acidic environment of the lysosome. Following lysosomal escape, the fluorescent probe precisely anchors to intracellular LDs and generates intense fluorescence signals, enabling in vivo imaging of carotid artery plaques in ApoE⁻/⁻ mice. In all, this work offers a new potential strategy for visualizing LDs in atherosclerotic plaques.