Targeted Ultrasound Contrast Imaging of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Ischemia–Reperfusion Rat Model: Ex Vivo and In Vivo Studies

Purpose We hypothesized that post-myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) remodeling associated matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP 2 ) activation could be detected by using novel MMP 2 targeted ultrasound imaging. Procedures We study the combination of MMP 2 -targeted microbubbles (TMB 2 ) and control microbubbles with myocardium in 1 week post-I/R rats. Results In in vitro studies, TMB 2 significantly bound within the risk area (RA) of 1-week post-I/R myocardial sections while rare binding was observed in the control area (CA). In in vivo studies, increased focal retention of TMB 2 was observed within the RA, with the higher myocardial video intensity (RA 42.85 ± 20.12 dB versus CA 25.85 ± 13.40 dB, p