Computed tomographic mesenteric lymphography by oral iohexol liposomes

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Lymphography is crucial for diagnosing lymphatic diseases.
• Conventional lymph node imaging is invasive and cannot visualize mesenteric lymph nodes.
• Liposomes can enhance oral drug bioavailability and lymphatic transport.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate iohexol liposomes for noninvasive mesenteric lymph node imaging.
• To assess the stability, particle characteristics, and lymphatic uptake of iohexol liposomes.
• To determine the efficacy of orally administered iohexol liposomes for CT imaging of mesenteric lymph nodes.

Main Methods:

• Iohexol liposomes were prepared using cholesterol, soybean lecithin, and iohexol via reverse-phase evaporation.
• Liposome characterization included encapsulation efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential.
• In vivo studies involved oral administration to mice for lymph node uptake analysis and to dogs for CT imaging.

Main Results:

• Iohexol liposomes exhibited 70.26% encapsulation efficiency, 185.7 nm particle size, and stability for five days.
• Oral administration led to peak iohexol content in mouse lymph nodes at 50-70 minutes (5.09 mg/g).
• CT scans of dogs showed mild enhancement in mesenteric lymph nodes after oral iohexol liposome administration.

Conclusions:

• Orally administered iohexol liposomes are effective for noninvasive imaging of mesenteric lymph nodes.
• This liposomal approach provides a novel modality for lymphography, overcoming limitations of conventional methods.
• The study demonstrates the potential of liposomes in enhancing diagnostic imaging of the lymphatic system.