Fluorescent Polymer Dots for Tracking SKOV3 Cells in Living Mice with Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy.

Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is a novel technique allowing real-time and high-resolution imaging in vivo. It provides microscopic images and increases the penetration depth of tissues compared with conventional white light endoscopy. The aim of the present study was to track ovarian cancer cells in organs by fluorescent polymer dots based on pCLE. SKOV3-mCherry cells were incubated with polymer dots for 24 h in a serum-free culture medium. Labeled cells were administrated to nude mice via intravenous, intraperitoneal, and lymph node injection. The fluorescent signals of labeled cells in organs were observed by pCLE. Furthermore, the results were confirmed by frozen section analysis. pCLE displayed fluorescence signals of labeled cells in the vessels of organs. Besides, the accumulations of labeled cells visualized in detoxification organs like the spleen and kidney were increased with time. In this article, we present a real-time and convenient method for tracking SKOV3-mCherry in living mice by combined fluorescent polymer dots with pCLE.