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Aggregation-induced emission luminogens for image-guided surgery in non-human primates
Danni Zhong1,2, Weiyu Chen3,4, Zhiming Xia5
1Eye Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
Nature Communications
|November 11, 2021
Summary
This study demonstrates folic acid-conjugated aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) for precise surgical guidance. These AIEgens enable enhanced intraoperative imaging and resection of cancerous tissues in non-human primates, paving the way for clinical translation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Materials Science
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) show promise for biomedical applications.
- Limited studies in non-human primates hinder clinical translation of AIEgens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the utility of AIEgens for optical imaging-guided surgery.
- To evaluate folic acid-conjugated AIEgen (folic-AIEgen) in non-human primate models.
- To assess folic-AIEgen for sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection and tumor metastasis resection.
Main Methods:
- Systematic evaluation of folic-AIEgen in small animals (mice, rabbits) and rhesus macaques.
- Utilized folic-AIEgen for fluorescence-guided detection and surgical excision of SLNs.
- Applied folic-AIEgen for imaging and guiding resection of invisible cancerous metastases.
Main Results:
- Folic-AIEgen provided strong, stable fluorescence for SLN detection and excision.
- Achieved superior tumor/normal tissue ratio and rapid tumor accumulation.
- Successfully guided precise resection of invisible cancerous metastases.
Conclusions:
- Folic-AIEgen enables effective fluorescence intraoperative imaging and visualization-guided surgery.
- Demonstrated potential for clinical translation in surgical oncology.
- Highlights the value of non-human primate models for AIEgen development.
