International Journal of Nanomedicine (Dec 2023)
A SPECT/NIR Fluorescence Dual-Modality Imaging Agent Composed of Drugs and Hospital Available Isotope for Preoperative Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Intraoperative Biopsy
Abstract
Ming Zhou,1,2,* Peng Liu,1,2,* Xiaoqin Yin,1 Caiting Deng,3,4 Yi Xiao,1 Meng Lei,1 Shuo Hu,1 Feifei An,3 Min Zhao1,5,6 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Biological, Nanotechnology of National Health Commission, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 4Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Science, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Nuclear Medicine, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 6National Clinical Research Center of Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Min Zhao; Feifei An, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping-guided biopsy is crucial for cancer staging and treatment. Optical/nuclide dual-modality imaging agents for mapping SLN are ideal for preoperative planning and intraoperative biopsy, which are enabled by penetration-depth unlimited nuclide imaging and dynamic real-time optical imaging, respectively. However, commonly reported dual-modality imaging agents are composed of novel but safety-unproven materials, making their quick clinical translation challenging. Herein, we report a novel nanoparticle composed of facile hospital-available drugs and isotope for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging to detect SLNs.Methods: Indocyanine green-human serum albumin (ICG-HSA) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by ICG-induced HSA self-assembly and further 99mTc-labeling via a one-step, facile hospital-available method. After injecting 99mTc-ICG-HSA into the rats’ forepaw pads, the rats’ draining axillary lymph nodes were visualized by preoperative mapping with SPECT/CT and intraoperative biopsy with NIR fluorescence. The axillary lymph nodes of rats were identified by pathology and fluorescent staining after execution. Additionally, its toxicity testing and comparison with 99mTc-sulfur colloid imaging were also explored.Results: The study reported a self-assembled 99mTc-ICG-HSA with a high radiochemical yield (85.6 ± 3.8%). Compared with conventional 99mTc-sulfur colloid, 99mTc-ICG-HSA NPs showed faster SLN identification, higher renal clearance, and lower hepatic retention. Furthermore, NIRF imaging allowed for the accurate visualization of the SLN and guided SLN biopsy intraoperatively. Notably, the 99mTc-ICG-HSA NPs were composed of hospital-available drugs and isotope, which are safe for acute toxicity evaluation by a certified institute.Conclusion: The proposed 99mTc-ICG-HSA NPs are safe and capable of noninvasive SLN identification and biopsy guidance with multi-modal imaging strategies and could be a promising tool for clinically assisted SLN biopsy. Keywords: image-guided surgery, indocyanine green, albumin, fluorescence imaging, near-infrared, single-photon emission computed tomography
