Nano-imaging of the lymph network structure with quantum dots

Comparative study on the diagnostic value of intravenous/peritumoral injection of indocyanine green for metastatic lymph node location in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)

Background

Accurate assessment of regional lymph node (LN) status is essential for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. In this study, we aimed to compare the difference between intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG) and peritumoral injection of ICG in the location of metastatic LNs.

Methods

Twenty-nine patients were enrolled in this study with 13 patients receiving intravenous injection of ICG and 16 patients receiving peritumoral injection of ICG. During the surgery, the fluorescence-positive LNs in vivo were sent to undergo frozen section after fluorescence intensity was recorded. After the cervical LN dissection, all LNs were sorted by region, and the fluorescence intensity was recorded before the LNs were sent for paraffin section.

Results

During the surgery, both intravenous or peritumoral injections with near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging of ICG had their respective pros and cons in vivo, with the sensitivity and specificity being 62.5%/75% and 98.1%/89.1% respectively. After the surgery, both methods could reduce the pathological workload by preselecting the LNs at-risk in the premise of accurate assessing the cervical LN stage. However, intravenous ICG administration was more valuable in determining all types of LN status according to the fluorescence intensity [area under the curve (AUC): 0.91 vs. 0.78, P<0.001].

Conclusions

With the assistance of NIR fluorescence imaging using ICG, both administration methods could reduce the postoperative complication and the pathological workload, whereas the intravenous mode of ICG administration is superior in application value.

Quantitative diagnostic imaging of cancer tissues by using phosphor-integrated dots with ultra-high brightness

The quantitative sensitivity and dynamic range of conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC) with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (IHC-DAB) used in pathological diagnosis in hospitals are poor, because enzyme activity can affect the IHC-DAB chromogenic reaction. Although fluorescent IHC can effectively increase the quantitative sensitivity of conventional IHC, tissue autofluorescence interferes with the sensitivity. Here, we created new fluorescent nanoparticles called phosphor-integrated dots (PIDs). PIDs have 100-fold greater brightness and a more than 300-fold greater dynamic range than those of commercially available fluorescent nanoparticles, quantum dots, whose fluorescence intensity is comparable to tissue autofluorescence. Additionally, a newly developed image-processing method enabled the calculation of the PID particle number in the obtained image. To quantify the sensitivity of IHC using PIDs (IHC-PIDs), the IHC-PIDs method was compared with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), a method well suited for evaluating total protein amount, and the two values exhibited strong correlation (R = 0.94). We next applied IHC-PIDs to categorize the response to molecular target-based drug therapy in breast cancer patients. The results suggested that the PID particle number estimated by IHC-PIDs of breast cancer tissues obtained from biopsy before chemotherapy can provide a score for predicting the therapeutic effect of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-targeted drug trastuzumab.

Quantitative diagnosis of HER2 protein expressing breast cancer by single-particle quantum dot imaging

Overexpression of HER2 is one of the major causes of breast cancer, and therefore precise diagnosis of its protein expression level is important. However, current methods estimating the HER2‐expression level are insufficient due to problem with the lack of quantification. This might result in a gap between diagnostics and therapeutics targeting HER2. Therefore, a new effective diagnostic method is needed. We developed a new immunohistochemical (IHC) technique with quantum dots (QD)‐conjugated trastuzumab using single‐particle imaging to quantitatively measure the HER2 expression level. Tissues from 37 breast cancer patients with available detailed clinical information were tested by IHC with QDs (IHC‐QD) and the correlation with IHC with 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine (DAB), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and IHC‐QD was examined. The number of QD‐conjugated trastuzumab particles binding specifically to a cancer cell was precisely calculated as the IHC‐QD score. The IHC‐QD score in 37 cases was correlated proportionally with the score of HER2 gene copy number as assessed by FISH (R = 0.83). When HER2 positivity was judged to be positive, the IHC‐QD score with our cut‐off level was exactly concordant with the FISH score with a cut‐off value of 2.0. Furthermore, IHC‐QDs score and time to progression (TTP) of trastuzumab therapy were well correlated in HER2‐positive cases (R = 0.69). Conversely, the correlation between FISH score and TTP was not observed. We developed a precisely quantitative IHC method using trastuzumab‐conjugated QDs and single‐particle imaging analysis and propose the possibility of using IHC‐QDs score as a predictive factor for trastuzumab therapy.

Predictive diagnosis of the risk of breast cancer recurrence after surgery by single-particle quantum dot imaging

In breast cancer, the prognosis of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive patients (20-25%) has been dramatically improved by the clinical application of the anti-HER2 antibody drugs trastuzumab and pertuzumab. However, the clinical outcomes of HER2-negative cases with a poor prognosis have not improved, and novel therapeutic antibody drugs or diagnostic molecular markers of prognosis are urgently needed. Here, we targeted protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) as a new biomarker for HER2-negative patients. The developed anti-PAR1 antibody inhibited PAR1 activation by matrix metalloprotease 1 and thereby prevented cancer-cell migration and invasion. To estimate PAR1 expression levels in HER2-negative patient tissues using the antibody, user-friendly immunohistochemistry with fluorescence nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs) was developed. Previously, immunohistochemistry with QDs was affected by tissue autofluorescence, making quantitative measurement extremely difficult. We significantly improved the quantitative sensitivity of immunohistochemistry with QDs by using an autofluorescence-subtracted image and single-QD imaging. The immunohistochemistry showed that PAR1 expression was strongly correlated with relapse-free survival time in HER2-negative breast cancer patients. Therefore, the developed anti-PAR1 antibody is a strong candidate for use as an anticancer drug and a prognostic biomarker for HER2-negative patients.

Advances in the application of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors

Nanotechnology has broad application prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Integrating chemistry, engineering, biology and medicine, nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary research field. Nanoscale imaging technology significantly improves the precision and accuracy of tumor diagnosis. Nanocarriers are able to significantly improve the accuracy of dose and targeted drug delivery and reduce the toxic side effects. This review focuses on the emerging roles of these innovative technologies in gastrointestinal cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Although several problems and barriers are hampering the development of nanodevices, the potential for nanotechnologies to function as multimodal nanotheranostic agents will likely pave the way for the fight against gastrointestinal cancer.

Quantum dots for cancer research: current status, remaining issues, and future perspectives

Cancer is a major threat to public health in the 21st century because it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The mechanisms of carcinogenesis, cancer invasion, and metastasis remain unclear. Thus, the development of a novel approach for cancer detection is urgent, and real-time monitoring is crucial in revealing its underlying biological mechanisms. With the optical and chemical advantages of quantum dots (QDs), QD-based nanotechnology is helpful in constructing a biomedical imaging platform for cancer behavior study. This review mainly focuses on the application of QD-based nanotechnology in cancer cell imaging and tumor microenvironment studies both in vivo and in vitro, as well as the remaining issues and future perspectives.

Self-illuminating quantum dots for highly sensitive in vivo real-time luminescent mapping of sentinel lymph nodes

Quantum dots (QDs) show promise as novel nanomaterials for sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping through their use in noninvasive in vivo fluorescence imaging, and they have provided remarkable results. However, in vivo fluorescence imaging has limitations mainly reflected in the strong autofluorescence and low deepness of tissue penetration associated with this technique. Here, we report on the first use of self-illuminating QDs for mouse axillary SLN mapping by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, which was found to overcome these limitations. We used CdTe/CdS QDs synthesized in aqueous solution to conjugate a mutant of the bioluminescent protein, Renilla reniformis luciferase. The nanobioconjugates obtained had an average hydrodynamic diameter of 19 nm, and their luminescence catalyzed by the substrate (coelenterazine) could penetrate into at least 20 mm of hairless pigskin, which could be observed using an in vivo imaging system equipped with a 700 nm emission filter. Conversely, the fluorescence of the nanobioconjugates penetrated no more than 10 mm of pigskin and was observed with a strong background. When 80 μL of the nanobioconjugates (containing about 0.5 μmol/L of QDs) and 5 μL of coelenterazine (1 μg/μL) were intradermally injected into a mouse paw, the axillary SLN could be imaged in real time without external excitation, and little background interference was detected. Furthermore, the decayed luminescence of QD-Luc8 in SLNs could be recovered after being intradermally reinjected with the coelenterazine. Our data showed that using self-illuminating QDs, as opposed to fluorescence QDs, has greatly enhanced sensitivity in SLN mapping, and that the SLN could be identified synchronously by the luminescence and fluorescence of the self-illuminating QDs.

Digital image analysis: a review of reproducibility, stability and basic requirements for optimal results

Digital image analysis (DIA) is increasingly implemented in histopathological research to facilitate truly quantitative measurements, decrease inter-observer variation and reduce hands-on time. Originally, efforts were made to enable DIA to reproduce manually obtained results on histological slides optimized for light microscopy and the human eye. With improved technical methods and the acknowledgement that computerized readings are different from analysis by human eye, recognition has been achieved that to really empower DIA, histological slides must be optimized for the digital 'eye', with reproducible results correlating with clinical findings. In this review, we focus on the basic expectations and requirements for DIA to gain wider use in histopathological research and diagnostics. With a reference to studies that specifically compare DIA with conventional methods, this review discusses reproducibility, application of stereology-based quantitative measurements, time consumption, optimization of histological slides, regions of interest selection and recent developments in staining and imaging techniques.

In vivo imaging of the molecular distribution of the VEGF receptor during angiogenesis in a mouse model of ischemia

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in angiogenesis and has been applied to medical therapy. However, because vascular imaging at the molecular level is impossible, the detailed in vivo dynamics of VEGF and its receptor (VEGFR) remain unknown. In this study, to understand the molecular distribution of VEGF and the VEGFR, we prepared ischemic mice with a new surgical method and induced angiogenesis in the gastrocnemius muscle. Then, we made a VEGF-conjugated fluorescence nanoparticle and performed staining of VEGFR-expressing cells with the fluorescent probe, demonstrating the high affinity of the probe for VEGFR. To observe the physiologic molecular distribution of VEGFR, we performed in vivo single-particle imaging of gastrocnemius in the ischemic leg with the fluorescent probe. The results suggested that only a 3-fold difference of VEGFR distribution is involved in the formation of branched vasculature in angiogenesis, although previous ex vivo data showed a 13-fold difference in its distribution, indicating that a method inducing a several-fold local increase of VEGFR concentration may be effective in generating site-specific angiogenesis in ischemic disease. This new in vivo imaging of ischemic mice could make useful contributions to understanding the mechanisms of angiogenesis and to developing a VEGFR-related drug.

Quantum dots in cell biology

Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that have broad excitation spectra, narrow emission spectra, tunable emission peaks, long fluorescence lifetimes, negligible photobleaching, and ability to be conjugated to proteins, making them excellent probes for bioimaging applications. Here the author reviews the advantages and disadvantages of using quantum dots in bioimaging applications, such as single-particle tracking and fluorescence resonance energy transfer, to study receptor-mediated transport.

Nanomedicine in GI

Recent advances in nanotechnology offer new hope for disease detection, prevention, and treatment. Nanomedicine is a rapidly evolving field wherein targeted therapeutic approaches using nanotechnology based on the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal diseases are being developed. Nanoparticle vectors capable of delivering drugs specifically and exclusively to regions of the gastrointestinal tract affected by disease for a prolonged period of time are likely to significantly reduce the side effects of existing otherwise effective treatments. This review aims at integrating various applications of the most recently developed nanomaterials that have tremendous potential for the detection and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

Single particle tracking confirms that multivalent Tat protein transduction domain-induced heparan sulfate proteoglycan cross-linkage activates Rac1 for internalization

The mechanism by which HIV-1-Tat protein transduction domain (TatP) enters the cell remains unclear because of an insufficient understanding of the initial kinetics of peptide entry. Here, we report the successful visualization and tracking of TatP molecular kinetics on the cell surface with 7-nm spatial precision using quantum dots. Strong cell binding was only observed with a TatP valence of ≥8, whereas monovalent TatP binding was negligible. The requirement of the cell-surface heparan sulfate (HS) chains of HS proteoglycans (HSPGs) for TatP binding and intracellular transport was demonstrated by the enzymatic removal of HS and simultaneous observation of two individual particles. Multivalent TatP induces HSPG cross-linking, recruiting activated Rac1 to adjacent lipid rafts and thereby enhancing the recruitment of TatP/HSPG to actin-associated microdomains and its internalization by macropinocytosis. These findings clarify the initial binding mechanism of TatP to the cell surface and demonstrate the importance of TatP valence for strong surface binding and signal transduction. Our data also shed light on the ability of TatP to exploit the machinery of living cells, using HSPG signaling to activate Rac1 and alter TatP mobility and internalization. This work should guide the future design of TatP-based peptides as therapeutic nanocarriers with efficient transduction.

Nanoparticles as fluorescent labels for optical imaging and sensing in genomics and proteomics

Optical labelling reagents (dyes and fluorophores) are an essential component of probe-based biomolecule detection, an approach widely employed in a variety of areas including environmental analysis, disease diagnostics, pharmaceutical screening, and proteomic and genomic studies. Recently, functional nanomaterials, as a new generation of high-value optical labels, have been applied to molecular detection. The great potential of such recent optical labels has paved the way for the development of new biomolecule assays with unprecedented analytical performance characteristics, related to sensitivity, multiplexing capability, sample throughput, cost-effectiveness and ease of use. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advances using different nanoparticles (such as quantum dots, rare earth doped nanoparticles or gold nanoparticles) for analytical genomics and proteomics, with particular emphasis on the outlook for different strategies of using nanoparticles for bioimaging and quantitative bioanalytical applications, as well as possibilities and limitations of nanoparticles in such a growing field.