Iatrogenic injury of the ureters is a feared complication of abdominal surgery. Zwitterionic near-infrared fluorophores are molecules with geometrically-balanced, electrically-neutral surface charge, which leads to renal-exclusive clearance and ultralow non-specific background binding. Such molecules could solve the ureter mapping problem by providing real-time anatomic and functional imaging, even through intact peritoneum. Here we present the first-in-human experience of this chemical class, as well as the efficacy study in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominopelvic surgery. The zwitterionic near-infrared fluorophore ZW800-1 is safe, has pharmacokinetic properties consistent with an ideal blood pool agent, and rapid elimination into urine after a single low-dose intravenous injection. Visualization of structure and function of the ureters starts within minutes after ZW800-1 injection and lasts several hours. Zwitterionic near-infrared fluorophores add value during laparoscopic abdominopelvic surgeries and could potentially decrease iatrogenic urethral injury. Moreover, ZW800-1 is engineered for one-step covalent conjugatability, creating possibilities for developing novel targeted ligands.
A zwitterionic near-infrared fluorophore for real-time ureter identification during laparoscopic abdominopelvic surgery.
CHDR
de Valk KS, Handgraaf HJ, Deken MM, Sibinga Mulder BG, Valentijn AR, Terwisscha van Scheltinga AG, Kuil J, van Esdonk MJ, Vuijk J, Bevers RF, Peeters KC, Holman FA, Frangioni JV, Burggraaf J, Vahrmeijer AL
