Near infrared-emitting persistent luminescent nanoparticles for Hepatocellular Carcinoma imaging and luminescence-guided surgery

Publication date: June 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 167
Author(s): Ting Ai, Wenting Shang, Hao Yan, Chaoting Zeng, Kun Wang, Yuan Gao, Tianpei Guan, Chihua Fang, Jie Tian
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fifth most common cancer worldwide, is increasing nowadays and poses a serious threat to human health. However, if treated effectively and timely, it is clinically manageable or curable. Therefore, accurate detection and complete surgical resection remain priorities for HCC with a high potential of improving both survival and quality of life. Lacking of real-time guide technology, traditional surgery are usually relied on the subjective experience of surgeon, which have the limitation of high sensitivity detection tumor. Here, we developed a contrast agent, ZnGa2O4Cr0.004 (ZGC), used for guided surgery during operation to accurate delineation of HCC. ZGC showed excellent long-lasting afterglow properties that lasted for hours, which can aid in real-time guided surgery. Meanwhile, ZGC display high spatial resolution and deep penetration during pre-operation for diagnostic computed tomography (CT). Interestingly, we observed reverse imaging in the tumor region, known as a "dark hole", which further improves the contrast for surgery. This new multi-modality nanoparticle has great potential for accurate liver cancer imaging and resection guidance.

Graphical abstract

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