title: [Self-made ultrasound/fluorescent bi-functional contrast agent for rabbit's normal lymph node imaging].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prepare a lymph node-targeted ultrasound/fluorescence bi-functional imaging contrast agents, and observe its effectiveness both on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and vivo near infrared fluorescence (NIR) imaging through animal experiments.
  
  
  METHODS
  The chimeric lymph node-targeted ligand (phosphatidylserine) and near-infrared fluorescent substance were assembled to form bi-functional contrast microbubbles. The morphology and size distribution were detected by optical microscope and Malvern potential tests. Five normal New Zealand white rabbits were subcutaneously injected with the prepared contrast agent in bilateral footpads, and the imaging effectiveness of lymph nodes and lymphatic vessel were observed by CEUS and NIR technique. Then blue dye was subcutaneously injected at the same site, and the rabbits were sacrificed for lymph nodes pathological examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipid ultrasound microbubbles,with a mean size of 3-5 Μm in diameter, appeared to be uniform in distribution and regular in configuration. The images of inflow lymphatic vessel and relevant lymph node were quickly showed up after the subcutaneous injection by CEUS, which was identical to the result detected by NIR. Biopsy confirmed that all the blue-stained lymph nodes could be displayed by NIR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The self-made bi-functional contrast agent has a good imaging ability in CEUS and NIR imaging. It may be a better agent as lymph node tracer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: En-ze
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Zhi-fei
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Shu-min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Heng-te
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Jin-rui
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000737:chemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005452:Fluoresceins