The 'Gator' Mouse Suit for early bioluminescent metastatic breast cancer detection and nanomaterial signal enhancement during live animal imaging.
Optical imaging is a cornerstone of modern oncologic research. The aim of this study is to determine the value of a new tool to enhance bioluminescent and fluorescent sensitivity for facilitating very-low-level signal detection in vivo.


METHODS
For bioluminescent imaging experiments, a luciferase expressing breast cancer cell line with metastatic phenotype was implanted orthotopically into the mammary fat pad of mice. For fluorescent imaging experiments, near-infrared (NIR) nanoparticles were injected intratumorally and subcutaneously into mice. Images were compared in mice with and without application of the 'Gator' Mouse Suit (GMS).


RESULTS
The GMS was associated with early detection and quantification of metastatic bioluminescent very-low-level signal not possible with conventional imaging strategies. Similarly, NIR nanoparticles that were undetectable in locations beyond the primary injection site could be visualized and their very-low-level signal quantifiable with the aid of the GMS.


CONCLUSIONS
The GMS is a device which has tremendous potential for facilitating the development of bioluminescent models and fluorescent nanomaterials for translational oncologic applications.
Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
Luke G
LG
Gutwein
Michael C
MC
Rule
Amit K
AK
Singh
Megan A
MA
Hahn
Scott C
SC
Brown
Brij
B
Moudgil
Stephen R
SR
Grobmyer
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation