Yaghini Elnaz, Turner Helen D, Le Marois Alix M, Suhling Klaus, Naasani Imad, MacRobert Alexander J
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science and Institute of Healthcare Engineering, University College London, London, UK.
Nanoco Technologies Ltd., 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, UK.
Biomaterials. 2016 Oct;104:182-91. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.07.014. Epub 2016 Jul 12.
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.
量子点（QDs）因其独特的光物理性质而成为生物医学成像中具有吸引力的光致发光探针。然而，量子点的潜在毒性仍然是其临床应用的主要障碍，因为它们通常在量子点核心中含有有毒重金属镉。在这项工作中，我们评估了一种新型的无重金属/无镉且具有良好光致发光量子产率的生物相容性量子点纳米颗粒（bio CFQD®纳米颗粒）。前哨淋巴结定位在乳腺癌治疗中是一种越来越重要的治疗选择。我们通过在大鼠爪部皮下注射后对区域淋巴结进行离体成像，证明了它们在前哨淋巴结定位方面的潜力。利用基于电感耦合等离子体质谱元素分析的光致发光成像和化学提取测量，显示量子点能快速且选择性地在腋窝和胸部区域淋巴结中积累。此外，量子点光致发光的寿命成像显微镜表明其在生物系统中的光致发光性质受到的干扰最小。
