Cell-Based Tracers as Trojan Horses for Image-Guided Surgery
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 22, pp. 755
Abstract
Surgeons rely almost completely on their own vision and palpation to recognize affected tissues during surgery. Consequently, they are often unable to distinguish between different cells and tissue types. This makes accurate and complete resection cumbersome. Targeted image-guided surgery (IGS) provides a solution by enabling real-time tissue recognition. Most current targeting agents (tracers) consist of antibodies or peptides equipped with a radiolabel for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) labels, or a near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dye. These tracers are preoperatively administered to patients, home in on targeted cells or tissues, and are visualized in the operating room via dedicated imaging systems. Instead of using these 'passive' tracers, there are other, more 'active' approaches of probe delivery conceivable by using living cells (macrophages/monocytes, neutrophils, T cells, mesenchymal stromal cells), cell(-derived) fragments (platelets, extracellular vesicles (exosomes)), and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses) or, alternatively, 'humanized' nanoparticles. Compared with current tracers, these active contrast agents might be more efficient for the specific targeting of tumors or other pathological tissues (e.g., atherosclerotic plaques). This review provides an overview of the arsenal of possibilities applicable for the concept of cell-based tracers for IGS.
Authors 11
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Radiology, Translational Nanomaterials and Imaging Group, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center · University of Twente
Affiliation as printed
Biomedical Photonic Imaging Group, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
Department of Radiology, Section of Nuclear Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Research and Development, UniQure, 1100 DA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Leiden University Medical Center · Percuros (Netherlands)
Affiliation as printed
Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
Percuros B.V. Leiden, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
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Universitätsmedizin Göttingen · Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine · University of Göttingen
Affiliation as printed
Translational Molecular Imaging, Clinic of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medicine Center Göttingen and Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Infection and Immunity, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
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