title: Carbon coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for sentinel lymph nodes mapping.
abstract: Intra-operative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph-adenectomy (LM/SL) maps the lymphatic path from the primary tumor to the regional nodes and permits selective excision of the first sentinel lymph nodes. It is a well established technique to detect occult regional node metastases for melanoma patients and breast cancer patients. In continuing attempts to improve accuracy, most surgeons now combine a dye (such as carbon particles) and radiopharmaceuticals when performing LM/SL. We developed a proto-type of carbon coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO@C) for sentinel lymph nodes mapping. Compared with combining carbon particles and radiopharmaceuticals for performing LM/SL, there are a number of advantages with our approach: I. SPIO is an MRI contrast agent, thus pre-operative MRI may be used for LM/SL instead of gamma camera. There is no radiation associated with MRI, and MRI offers good tissue contrast and detailed cross-sectional images. II. There will be only needed one injection of SPIO@C nanoparticles, instead of administrating two successive injections of radiopharmaceuticals and carbon particles. III. During the operation, an intra-operative MRI scanner can be used, or more conveniently by a simple magnetometer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China;
authors.forename: Yi-Xiang J
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Da-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ken Cf
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Leung