Short-Term Dynamic Observation of the Color Change and Enhancement Effect of Polyethylenimine-Entrapped Gold Nanoparticles Used for Indirect Lymphography

Abstract

Aims: To dynamically observe the color change and enhancement effect of gadolinium-loaded polyethylenimine-entrapped gold nanoparticles (Gd-Au PENPs) as a dual-mode CT/MRI contrast agent for sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification. Methods: In 6 rabbits, Gd-Au PENPs were injected into the right side tongue submucosa, after which the color change of cervical draining lymph nodes was observed. Then the draining lymph nodes were examined by CT/MRI scan. Another 6 rabbits were randomly divided into a CT lymphography (CT-LG) and a MRI lymphography (MRI-LG) group and examined by CT/MRI scan 1 and 30 min after injection. Then SLNs were identified under the guidance of CT/MRI-LG. Results: The ipsilateral afferent lymphatic vessels, cervical draining lymph nodes and efferent lymphatic vessels were stained black orderly and constantly after Gd-Au PENPs injection. Thirty minutes after injection, all cervical lymph nodes were excised to be examined by CT/MRI scan, and only the black-stained draining lymph nodes were enhanced. The 6 rabbits with CT/MRI-LG showed clear enhancement of SLNs. With indirect lymphography, the black-stained SLNs were easily visualized at autopsy. In all rabbits, the identification rate of lingual SLNs was 100%. Conclusions: Rabbit lingual SLNs could be identified with indirect lymphography using Gd-Au PENPs as a dual-mode contrast agent.

New Developments in Imaging for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early-Stage Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…For reviewing the application of CT lymphography in early-stage OSCC, the systematic literature search led to retrieval of 112 PubMed indexed articles for CT lymphography, of which 17 were considered relevant [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 40 , 41 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ]. Of these 17 articles, 11 were animal studies [ 40 , 41 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ]. Cross-reference did not lead to any additional relevant articles.…”

“…For reviewing the application of CT lymphography in early-stage OSCC, the systematic literature search led to retrieval of 112 PubMed indexed articles for CT lymphography, of which 17 were considered relevant [26][27][28][29][30][31]40,41,[64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72]. Of these 17 articles, 11 were animal studies [40,41,[64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72].…”

“…Consequently, PET could be highly suitable for lymphoscintigraphy and may identify SLNs with higher precision than conventional lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT. Instead of a γ-emitter (e.g., [ 99m Tc], [ 60 Co])-labelled radiotracer, generally used for conventional lymphoscintigraphy, PET lymphoscintigraphy requires a positron emitting isotope (e.g., [ 89 Zr], [ 68 Ga], [ 18 F])-labelled radiotracer [74].…”

“…Whereas labelling of nanocolloids with [ 68 Ga] is complicated, mainly due to instability of the bond between [ 68 Ga] and nanocolloids [106], [ 68 Ga] has been successfully labelled to tilmanocept [107]. Moreover, fluorescent (IRD-800CW)-labelled tilmanocept can be radiolabelled with both [ 68 Ga] and [ 99m Tc].…”

Dendrimer-Entrapped Gold Nanoparticles as Potential CT Contrast Agents for Localizing Sentinel Lymph Node via Indirect CT Lymphography on Rabbit Model

“…Therefore, Au NPs are potentially excellent CT contrast agents for indirect LG imaging to identify SLNs in the head and neck. There have been few studies of indirect LG using Au NPs as CT contrast [ 27 ] and it identified the enhanced SLNs 100% in all rabbits by indirect CT-LG. But it did not have controlled trials with Omnipaque and lymphatic tracer.…”