Scientific Meeting of the Head and Neck Optical Diagnostics Society
Doi
Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) are new class of fluorescent inorganic nanocrystals which have been used for in vitro and
in vivo imaging. Their unique optical properties such as
broad excitation spectra, narrow emission spectrum and
resistance to photobleaching make them ideal for biological labeling. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a means of
ultra-staging cancer metastasis and is now the standard of
care in breast cancer surgery. Localisation of sentinel
nodes is also important in the treatment of head and neck
cancer. Current tracers for SLN biopsy include the blue
dye have various limitations that could be overcome by
quantum dots that emit in near infrared range (>700 nm).
To safely deliver QDs they must be encapsulated in a biocompatible coating. In this study we encapsulate CdTe
QDs with new nanocomposite material based on a
silsesquioxane modified poly (carbonate-urea) urethane
polymer, and evaluated their spectroscopic properties