AngioSPARK on the ASK

angiospark1.jpg
Figure 1: Diagram of AngioSpark agent

Overview

The vascular system, also called the circulatory system, is made up of the vessels that carry blood and lymph through the body. It supplies all organs and tissues of the body with oxygen and nutrients, removal of waste products, fluid balance, and other functions. Changes in the vascular system may occur in a variety of different cancers and inflammatory states. In vivo imaging enables studying these changes.

NanoSPARKS™, including AngioSPARK®, are a new family of highly-fluorescent near infrared nanoparticles specifically designed for in vivo imaging. NanoSPARKS contain an iron oxide core that is coated to specifically produce a functionalized biocompatible product. AngioSPARK® 680 comprises pegylated fluorescent nanoparticles that remain localized in the vasculature for extended periods of time and enable imaging of blood vessels and angiogenesis.


Products and catalog numbers

ProductCatalog NumberEx/Em wavelength (nm)Nanoparticle sizeValidated ExperimentsApplicationsStorage and Stability
AngioSPARK 680NEV10149673 ± 5 nm

690 ± 5 nm		20 – 50 nmIntravital microscopy imaging administration via tail vein injection and imagingVascularity in cancer and inflammationStore at 2-8 °C protected from light. Stable up to 12 months.
AngioSPARK 750NEV10150750 ± 5 nm

775 ± 5 nm		20 – 50 nmIntravital microscopy imaging administration via tail vein injection and imagingVascularity in cancer and inflammationStore at 2-8 °C protected from light. Stable up to 12 months.


Using AngioSPARK in vivo

The recommended procedure for in vivo imaging with AngioSPARK is administration via tail vein injection and imaging 0-4 hours post injection.

  • Imaging in Oncology: AngioSPARK can be used to study angiogenesis, as a marker for blood vessel density, in animal tumor models.
  • Imaging in Arthritis: AngioSPARK can be used to characterize vascular changes and therapeutic responses associated with animal models of arthritis.
ProductRoute of InjectionMouse Dose (25 g)Rat Dose (250 g)Blood t 1/2Tissue t 1/2Optimal imaging timeOptimal Re-injection Time (complete clearance)Route of Metabolism/ background tissueFMT and IVIS settings
AngioSPARK 680IV100 uL
300 - 1000 uL
20 h>100 h
24 hPre-image subtraction
Long term tissue accumulation
- FMT 680/700
- IVIS 675/720
AngioSPARK 750IV100 uL
300 - 1000 uL
20 h>100 h24 hPre-image subtractionLong term tissue accumulation- FMT 750/770
- IVIS 745/800

In Vivo Imaging

Determining optimal tumor imaging timepoints for AngioSPARK.

To determine the optimal imaging time point relative to agent injection, we imaged 4T1 tumor-bearing mice at different times post-AngioSPARK 680 injection (Figure 2). Whole body images at 24h post-injection (Fig 2A) reveal signal throughout the body (including bladder, intestines, liver, and heart) as well as in the tumor. Careful FMT assessment of the tumor regions showed a mostly vascular signal from 5 minutes to 3 h. The maximal tumor signal over background was seen at 24 h, with signal distributed throughout the tumors at 24-48 h. At later time points (72-96 h) signal appears to clear from the center of the tumors and localizes predominantly in the tumor margins. Both FMT and planar imaging can detect differences as compared to control sites. FMT would offer the additional advantage of the detection of deep tissue tumors undetectable at the surface by 2D planar imaging.

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Figure 2. Imaging of tumors with AngioSPARK. FMT and planar images show the patterns of fluorescence that occur in animals bearing tumor masses on the upper mammary fat pads. A) Whole body signal by FMT imaging. B) FMT imaging showing only tumor region fluorescence over time. Inset panels represent surface fluorescence detected by planar imaging.


Citations

Please visit our Citations Library for references using AngioSPARK on the IVIS or on the FMT.