원문정보
초록
영어
Detection of lymph node (LN) metastasis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has obtained clinical significance for treating cancer patients. LN metastasis often happens through regional lymphatic system, leading to distal tumor formation invluding lungs, liver and bones. Successful imaging of small and microscopic LN metastasis provides the helpful information in deciding the therapeutic option of cancer. Mannan is a water-soluble polysaccharide having high content of D-mannose residues which can be recognized by mannose receptors on activated macrophages and dendritic cells. Mannan-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Mannan-SPION) were developed to be specifically delivered to macrophages in lymph node by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Mannan-SPION was proven to be suitable for MR imaging due to small size, excellent stability in ferrofluid, and low cytotoxicity. In addition, mannan-SPION exhibited enhanced targeted delivery efficiency to macrophages in lymph nodes in vivo compared with PVA-SPION. Especially, LN enhancement of Mannan-SPION on MRI was dramatically increased at the later stage after intravenous injection compared with PVA-SPION control, indicative of the potential to successfully detect micrometastasis in LN.