A folate receptor-targeted NIR-II probe improves intraoperative imaging and surgery of metastatic ovarian cancer.
A folate receptor-targeted NIR-II probe achieves 90.20% tumor detection sensitivity, surpassing OTL38, and enables visualization of lesions ≤3 mm in metastatic ovarian cancer.
- Why it matters: Current intraoperative imaging agents like OTL38 are limited by shallow tissue penetration and lower resolution, restricting complete tumor removal and affecting patient outcomes.
- What they did: Researchers developed a folate receptor α-targeted NIR-II imaging probe with albumin-binding properties, enhancing systemic circulation and tumor accumulation, tested in murine models of peritoneal metastasis.
- The result: The new probe provided superior detection of occult lesions, including small tumors, facilitating more precise, fluorescence-guided surgeries and potentially improving clinical management of ovarian cancer.