Image-guided tumor surgery: will there be a role for fluorescent nanoparticles?

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine
• Biotechnology
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Image-guided surgery (IGS) enhances surgical precision.
• Fluorescence imaging offers real-time feedback for locating diseased tissues.
• Current FDA-approved fluorophores show preliminary success in IGS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) in image-guided surgery.
• To discuss strategies for developing advanced fluorescent NPs for improved tumor detection.
• To highlight the future prospects of fluorescent NPs in clinical IGS.

Main Methods:

• Leveraging the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect with NPs.
• Modifying NPs to evade clearance, prolong circulation, and target tumors.
• Developing passive and active targeting strategies for NPs.
• Designing pH-responsive NPs and enhancing cellular uptake.

Main Results:

• Fluorescent NPs can improve signal-to-background ratio in fluorescence imaging.
• Active targeting strategies reduce false-positive rates in tumor detection.
• Preclinical development shows rapid advancement in NP formulations for IGS.
• Potential for improved detection and reduced false positives in IGS.

Conclusions:

• Fluorescent nanoparticles hold significant promise for advancing image-guided surgery.
• Ongoing research focuses on optimizing NP properties for enhanced efficacy and targeting.
• The development of fluorescent NPs is expected to lead to future clinical trials in IGS.