title: Towards real-time detection of tumor margins using photothermal imaging of immune-targeted gold nanoparticles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the critical problems in cancer management is local recurrence of disease. Between 20% and 30% of patients who undergo tumor resection surgery require reoperation due to incomplete excision. Currently, there are no validated methods for intraoperative tumor margin detection. In the present work, we demonstrate the potential use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as a novel contrast agent for photothermal molecular imaging of cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phantoms containing different concentrations of GNPs were irradiated with continuous-wave laser and measured with a thermal imaging camera which detected the temperature field of the irradiated phantoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results clearly demonstrate the ability to distinguish between cancerous cells specifically targeted with GNPs and normal cells. This technique, which allows highly sensitive discrimination between adjacent low GNP concentrations, will allow tumor margin detection while the temperature increases by only a few degrees Celsius (for GNPs in relevant biological concentrations).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We expect this real-time intraoperative imaging technique to assist surgeons in determining clear tumor margins and to maximize the extent of tumor resection while sparing normal background tissue.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Kobi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jakobsohn
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motiei
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinvani
authors.forename: Rachela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popovtzer
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003199:Computer Systems; D003287:Contrast Media; D006046:Gold; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003287:Contrast Media; D006046:Gold