99mTc-Human Serum Albumin-Nanoparticle for Sentinel Lymph Node Identification

The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node in a lymph node basin to receive lymphatic drainage
from a primary tumor. An accurate identification and characterization of sentinel lymph node is very
important as it helps to decide the extension of surgery, the tumor staging, and establisment of the
most adequate therapy. Technetium-99m labeled Human Serum Albumin nanoparticle (99mTc-HSA
nanoparticle) was prepare as a radiopharmaceutical with particle size between 100 - 200 nm that is used
in lymphoscintigraphy technique for tracing lymphatic system and identifies the sentinel lymph node.
Biodistribution study of 99mTc-HSA nanoparticle was conducted in mice to identify the accumulation
of this agent in sentinel node and the other tissue. 99mTc-HSA nanoparticle showed good accumulation
in sentinel node about 1.29 + 0.90 %ID with value of popliteal extraction 89.55 + 8.52 at one-hour
post injection. This result was indicated that 99mTc-HSA nanoparticle is very promising compound to
be further explored as sentinel lymph node imaging agent.
Keywords: Lymphoscintigraphy, 99mTc-HSA-nanoparticle, sentinel lymph node