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Updated: Aug 2, 2025
Non-invasive Imaging of Acute Allograft Rejection after Rat Renal Transplantation Using 18F-FDG PET
Published on: April 28, 2013
Noninvasive Early Diagnosis of Allograft Rejection by a Granzyme B Protease Responsive NIR-II Bioimaging Nanosensor
Ying Chen1, Peng Pei1, Yiwei Yang1
1Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and iChem, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Insights
A novel nanosensor enables early, non-invasive detection of allograft rejection by monitoring granzyme B. This advanced fluorescence imaging approach improves transplant management and reduces risks associated with traditional biopsy methods.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Immunology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Early diagnosis of allograft rejection is crucial for effective transplant recipient management.
- Current core needle biopsy methods are invasive and prone to sampling errors.
- In vivo fluorescence imaging offers non-invasive, sensitive, and rapid monitoring of immune processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a responsive second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescent nanosensor for early allograft rejection detection.
- To enable non-invasive monitoring of immune-related processes in transplant recipients.
- To provide an alternative diagnostic tool to traditional biopsy methods.
Main Methods:
- Development of a ratiometric NIR-II fluorescent nanosensor (ErGZ).
- In vivo fluorescence imaging for sensing granzyme B overexpression.
- Application in skin and deep buried islets transplant mouse models.
Main Results:
- The ErGZ nanosensor demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting allograft rejection.
- Non-invasive diagnosis of rejection was achieved 2 days earlier in skin transplants and 5 days earlier in islet transplants compared to biopsy.
- Urinary detection and in vivo fluorescence imaging were utilized for diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- The developed ErGZ nanosensor provides a valuable approach for early, non-invasive diagnosis of allograft rejection.
- This method offers improved therapeutic management for transplant recipients.
- The nanosensor facilitates earlier detection than conventional biopsy, minimizing patient risk.
Abstract:
Early diagnosis of allograft rejection helps to improve the immune-related management of transplant recipients. The clinically-used core needle biopsy method is invasive and subject to sampling error. In vivo fluorescence imaging for monitoring immune-related processes has the advantages of non-invasiveness, fast feedback and high sensitivity. Herein, we report a responsive second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescent nanosensor (ErGZ) to detect early allograft rejection. ErGZ allows ratiometric in vivo fluorescence sensing of granzyme B, which is overexpressed in recipients' T cells during the onset of rejection. The sensor demonstrates efficacious detection of allograft rejection with high sensitivity and specificity, which accomplishes non-invasive diagnosis of rejection in skin and deep buried islets transplant mice models 2 d and 5 d earlier than biopsy, by in vivo fluorescence imaging and urinary detection, respectively, providing a valuable approach for therapeutical management.
