Nanoprobes-Assisted Multichannel NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Resection and Photothermal Ablation of Lymph Nodes

Lymph node metastasis is a major metastatic route of cancer and significantly influences the prognosis of cancer patients. Radical lymphadenectomy is crucial for a successful surgery. However, iatrogenic normal organ injury during lymphadenectomy is a troublesome complication. Here, this paper reports a kind of organic nanoprobes (IDSe-IC2F nanoparticles (NPs)) with excellent second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence and photothermal properties. IDSe-IC2F NPs can effectively label lymph nodes and helped achieve high-contrast lymphatic imaging. More importantly, by jointly using IDSe-IC2F nanoparticles and other kinds of nanoparticles with different excitation/emission properties, a multichannel NIR-II fluorescence imaging modality and imaging-guided lymphadenectomy is proposed. With the help of this navigation system, the iatrogenic injury can be largely avoided. In addition, NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided photothermal treatment (hot strategy) can ablate those metastatic lymph nodes which are difficult to deal with during resection (cold strategy). Nanoprobes-assisted and multichannel NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided cold and hot treatment strategy provides a general new basis for the future precision surgery.

Automated summary

This study introduces organic nanoprobes for lymph node imaging, proposing a multi-channel imaging modality and navigation system to prevent organ damage during surgery and provide precise treatment. The development of nanoprobes for fluorescence imaging-guided therapy offers a new basis for future precision surgery.