| Abstract Scope |
While it has been widely accepted that supraphysiological concentrations of metal ions in vitro and in vivo for vascular cell types are toxic, almost no work has been done to describe the in-situ tissue presence of implant derived metals within the in-vivo vascular system. We have explored the presence and effect of vascular implant (biodegradable and non-biodegradable) eluted metals in tissue cross sections using high resolution (1µm x 1µm) laser ablation mass spectrometric imaging, and multiplexed immunofluorescent histological staining. Using this combinatorial approach, we able to evaluate the relative distribution of important essential elements such as Mg, Zn, Fe, and non-essential, implant derived elements such as Nb, Y, Nd, Pt, Pd, Ni, and Re. Since the metals are implanted in a clinically relevant atherosclerotic transgenic mouse model, we can decipher how implant derived alloying elements exert a stimulatory effect on disease relevant inflammation and tissue response. |