Targeted Nanoclusters for Intratracheal Delivery in Intraoperative Imaging of Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is widely used all over the world, and the detection rate of early lung adenocarcinoma is increasing. Minimally invasive thoracic surgery (MITS) has emerged as the preferred surgical approach for lung adenocarcinoma, but identifying small lung adenocarcinomas is difficult. Therefore, there is a need for a non-invasive, convenient and efficient way to localize lung adenocarcinomas.

Materials and methods: A targeted gold nanocluster for intraoperative fluorescence imaging by intratracheal delivery has been designed. Au-GSH-anti Napsin A nanoclusters (NapA-AuNCs) were synthesized, and their physicochemical properties and optical properties were characterized. Target effect, cytotoxicity and fluorescence time curve of NapA-AuNCs, were tested in vivo and in vitro, and intratracheal delivery was also carried.

Results: NapA-AuNCs targeting lung adenocarcinoma with red fluorescence and good mucus penetration were synthesized, which had the targeting property of A549 and lung adenocarcinoma tissue, and also had very low toxicity to normal lung epithelial cells and organs. Intracheal delivery involves faster imaging of lung adenocarcinoma and less accumulation of other organs than intravenous administration.

Conclusion: NapA-AuNCs targeting lung adenocarcinoma were successfully conjugated, and intratracheal delivery is a safe, effective for lung adenocarcinoma intraoperative localization.