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In vivo and in situ real-time fluorescence imaging of peripheral nerves in the NIR-II window

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An Erratum to this article was published on 19 May 2021

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Abstract

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is essential for performing and maintaining various motor and sensory functions. Abnormalities can lead to a series of peripheral neurological conditions, such as paraesthesia, pain, or spasms, which are debilitating and lowering the quality of life. The current guidelines for diagnosis rely predominantly on clinical symptoms resulting from PNS dysfunction, which occur already at an advanced stage. There are currently no effective methods that visually reflect the extent of peripheral neuropathy. In our study, we present a novel in vivo and in situ real-time imaging of peripheral nerves based on the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) fluorescence. In NIR-II system, PbS Qds with NIR-II fluorescence specifically bound to motor neuron-specific protein agrin, acting as image contrast. In mice model, peripheral nerves were visible as soon as after 2 h post injection. We provide evidence for the efficacy of this approach, which allows to directly demonstrate peripheral nerves, their structure, and potential damage sites and degree. Furthermore, our products were of good biocompatibility, while the neural fluorescence signal was solid, bright and stable for 4 h in vivo. Thus, overall, our results suggest that NIR-II is an effective new method for direct imaging of peripheral nerves in vivo, opening new horizons on early, improved and more precise, targeted diagnosis. A resulting more rapid installation of personalized therapy facilitates a better prognosis of clinical peripheral neuropathy.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81672247, 81772339, 8181101445, 81811530750, and 81811530389), Shanghai Rising-Star Project (No. 18QB1400500), The Key Clinical Medicine Center of Shanghai (No. 2017ZZ01006), Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen (No. SZSM201612078), The Introduction Project of Clinical Medicine Expert Team for Suzhou (No. SZYJTD201714), and Development Project of Shanghai Peak Disciplines-Integrative Medicine (No. 20180101).

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  1. Zhujun Feng, Yimeng Yang, and Jian Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China

    Zhujun Feng, Shixian Dong & Yan Wo

  2. Sports Medicine Institute of Fudan University, Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Yimeng Yang, Jian Zhang, Yunxia Li & Jun Chen

  3. Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Intelligent diagnosis and treatment instrument, Key Laboratory of Thin Film and Microfabrication (Ministry of Education), Shanghai, 200240, China

    Kan Wang

  4. Department of Plastic Surgery, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China

    Heng Xu

  5. Department of physical education, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China

    Zhen Wang

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4051, Basel, Switzerland

    Ewelina Biskup

  7. Department of orthopedics, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215500, China

    Xing Yang & Yuefeng Hao

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  1. Zhujun Feng
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Correspondence to Yuefeng Hao, Jun Chen or Yan Wo.

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In vivo and in situ real-time fluorescence imaging of peripheral nerves in the NIR-II window

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Feng, Z., Yang, Y., Zhang, J. et al. In vivo and in situ real-time fluorescence imaging of peripheral nerves in the NIR-II window. Nano Res. 12, 3059–3068 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-019-2552-z

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