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Published on: July 17, 2012
Injectable and Sprayable Fluorescent Nanoprobe for Rapid Real-Time Detection of Human Colorectal Tumors
Bo Zhang1, Jialiang Lu2, Xu Lin3
1Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
Abstract:
The development of minimally invasive surgery has greatly advanced precision tumor surgery, but sometime suffers from restricted visualization of the surgical field, especially during the removal of abdominal tumors. A 3-D inspection of tumors could be achieved by intravenously injecting tumor-selective fluorescent probes, whereas most of which are unable to instantly distinguish tumors via in situ spraying, which is urgently needed in the process of surgery in a convenient manner. In this study, this work has designed an injectable and sprayable fluorescent nanoprobe, termed Poly-g-BAT, to realize rapid tumor imaging in freshly dissected human colorectal tumors and animal models. Mechanistically, the incorporation of γ-glutamyl group facilitates the rapid internalization of Poly-g-BAT, and these internalized nanoprobes can be subsequently activated by intracellular NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 to release near-infrared fluorophores. As a result, Poly-g-BAT can achieve a superior tumor-to-normal ratio (TNR) up to 12.3 and enable a fast visualization (3 min after in situ spraying) of tumor boundaries in the xenograft tumor models, Apcmin/+ mice models and fresh human tumor tissues. In addition, Poly-g-BAT is capable of identifying minimal premalignant lesions via intravenous injection.
Insights
A new sprayable fluorescent nanoprobe, Poly-g-BAT, enables rapid and precise visualization of colorectal tumors during surgery. This innovation improves surgical field clarity, aiding in the identification of both large tumors and minimal premalignant lesions.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Surgical Oncology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Minimally invasive surgery enhances precision but faces visualization challenges, particularly for abdominal tumors.
- Current fluorescent probes often lack the ability for instant, in situ tumor distinction via spraying, a critical need in surgical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate an injectable and sprayable fluorescent nanoprobe (Poly-g-BAT) for rapid tumor imaging.
- To address the limitations of current probes in providing immediate visualization of tumor boundaries during surgery.
Main Methods:
- Development of Poly-g-BAT, an injectable and sprayable fluorescent nanoprobe.
- Utilizing the γ-glutamyl group for rapid cellular internalization and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 activation for fluorophore release.
- Testing in xenograft tumor models, Apcmin/+ mice, and fresh human colorectal tumor tissues.
Main Results:
- Poly-g-BAT achieved rapid tumor visualization within 3 minutes after in situ spraying.
- Demonstrated a superior tumor-to-normal ratio (TNR) of up to 12.3.
- Successfully identified minimal premalignant lesions via intravenous injection.
Conclusions:
- Poly-g-BAT offers a novel solution for real-time, in situ tumor imaging in surgical oncology.
- The nanoprobe's sprayable nature and rapid activation enhance surgical precision and diagnostic capabilities.
- This technology shows potential for improved detection of colorectal tumors and early-stage lesions.
