Carbon coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for sentinel lymph nodes mapping

[摘要] Intra-operative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph-adenectomy (LM/SL) maps the lymphatic path from the primarytumor to the regional nodes and permits selective excision of the first sentinel lymph nodes. It is a well established techniqueto detect occult regional node metastases for melanoma patients and breast cancer patients. In continuing attempts toimprove accuracy, most surgeons now combine a dye (such as carbon particles) and radiopharmaceuticals when performingLM/SL. We developed a proto-type of carbon coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO@C) for sentinellymph nodes mapping. Compared with combining carbon particles and radiopharmaceuticals for performing LM/SL,there are a number of advantages with our approach: I. SPIO is an MRI contrast agent, thus pre-operative MRI may beused for LM/SL instead of gamma camera. There is no radiation associated with MRI, and MRI offers good tissue contrastand detailed cross-sectional images. II. There will be only needed one injection of SPIO@C nanoparticles, instead ofadministrating two successive injections of radiopharmaceuticals and carbon particles. III. During the operation, an intraoperativeMRI scanner can be used, or more conveniently by a simple magnetometer.

[学科分类] 外科医学

[关键词] Regional lymph nodes;sentinel lymph node;carbon;MRI;superparamagnetic iron oxide