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Towards real-time detection of tumor margins using photothermal imaging of immune-targeted gold nanoparticles

Authors Jakoboshn, Motiei M, Sinvani, Popovtzer R

Received 23 May 2012

Accepted for publication 11 July 2012

Published 28 August 2012 Volume 2012:7 Pages 4707—4713

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S34157

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Kobi Jakobsohn, Menachem Motiei, Moshe Sinvani, Rachela Popovtzer

Faculty of Engineering and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

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).
Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: photothermal imaging, gold nanoparticles, molecular imaging

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