1. In vivo biodistribution studies and ex vivo lymph node imaging using heavy metal-free quantum dots
- Author
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Elnaz, Yaghini, Helen D, Turner, Alix M, Le Marois, Klaus, Suhling, Imad, Naasani, and Alexander J, MacRobert
- Subjects
Heavy metal-free quantum dots ,MA, myristic acid ,HF, hydrofluoric acid ,ICG, indocyanine green ,NIR, near-infra red ,Metal Nanoparticles ,QD, quantum dot ,ALN, axillary lymph node ,Indium ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Article ,TMS, trimethylsilyl ,Breast cancer ,SLN, sentinel lymph node ,Metals, Heavy ,Quantum Dots ,Animals ,Nanotechnology ,Tissue Distribution ,LNs, lymph nodes ,SLNB, sentinel lymph node biopsy ,TEM, transmission electron microscopy ,Photoluminescence ,PL, photoluminescence ,LED, light-emitting diode ,NPs, nanoparticles ,PEG, polyethylene glycol ,DLS, dynamic light scattering ,FLIM, fluorescence lifetime imaging ,Reproducibility of Results ,ALND, Axillary lymph node dissection ,LALN, left axillary lymph node ,LTLN, left thoracic lymph node ,Rats ,ICP-MS, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy ,TLN, thoracic lymph node ,CCD, charge-coupled device ,Luminescent Measurements ,Nanoparticles ,Female ,QY, quantum yield ,Sentinel Lymph Node ,RES, reticuloendothelial system - Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) are attractive photoluminescence probes for biomedical imaging due to their unique photophysical properties. However, the potential toxicity of QDs has remained a major obstacle to their clinical use because they commonly incorporate the toxic heavy metal cadmium within the core of the QDs. In this work, we have evaluated a novel type of heavy metal-free/cadmium-free and biocompatible QD nanoparticles (bio CFQD(®) nanoparticles) with a good photoluminescence quantum yield. Sentinel lymph node mapping is an increasingly important treatment option in the management of breast cancer. We have demonstrated their potential for lymph node mapping by ex vivo imaging of regional lymph nodes after subcutaneous injection in the paw of rats. Using photoluminescence imaging and chemical extraction measurements based on elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, the quantum dots are shown to accumulate quickly and selectively in the axillary and thoracic regional lymph nodes. In addition, lifetime imaging microscopy of the QD photoluminescence indicates minimal perturbation to their photoluminescence properties in biological systems.
- Published
- 2016