Fluorescent Lectins for Local in Vivo Visualization of Peripheral Nerves

Molecules

Gijs Hendrik KleinJan¹  Tessa Buckle¹  Danny Michel van Willigen¹  Matthias Nathanaël van Oosterom¹  Silvia Johara Spa¹  Harmen Egbert Kloosterboer¹ 

[1] Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Hospital, Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

关键词: imaging agents;    fluorescence;    peripheral nerves;    lectins;    surgical guidance;   

DOI  :  10.3390/molecules19079876

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Damage to peripheral nerves caused during a surgical intervention often results in function loss. Fluorescence imaging has the potential to improve intraoperative identification and preservation of these structures. However, only very few nerve targeting agents are available. This study describes thein vivo nerve staining capabilities of locally administered fluorescent lectin-analogues. To this end WGA, PNA, PHA-L and LEL were functionalized with Cy5 (λ_{ex max} 640 nm; λ_{em max} 680 nm). Transfer of these imaging agents along the sciatic nerve was evaluated in Thy1-YFP mice (n = 12) after intramuscular injection. Migration from the injection site was assessed in vivo using a laboratory fluorescence scanner and ex vivo via fluorescence confocal microscopy. All four lectins showed retrograde movement and staining of the epineurium with a signal-to-muscle ratio of around two. On average, the longest transfer distance was obtained with WGA-Cy5 (0.95 cm). Since WGA also gave minimal uptake in the lymphatic system, this lectin type revealed the highest potential as a migration imaging agent to visualize nerves.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.