Researchers in China have developed a fluorescent dye that keeps the ureters visible for several hours during surgery in mice and pigs, potentially reducing accidental injury. 

The ureters – small tubes of muscle that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder – can be difficult to see during surgery and are at risk of accidental injury. Existing fluorescent dyes can bind to other tissues, break down quickly or be removed from the body through multiple routes, making them less effective at specifically highlighting the urinary system. 

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong developed a new fluorescent dye, called SID-788, that remains in the urinary system before being excreted in the urine. In mice and pigs, the dye clearly highlighted the ureters for four to five hours after being injected into the bloodstream, long enough for most abdominal and pelvic interventions, and worked with surgical imaging systems already used in hospitals. 

The dye was also well tolerated in mice, even at doses up to 500 times higher than those normally required for imaging, supporting its potential for future clinical use. 

“The development of SID-788 serves as a compelling example of integrating fundamental innovation with translational research. Through its novel molecular design, SID-788 possesses properties long pursued [in the] field, solving some of [its] long-standing problems,” said Hongjie Dai, from the University of Hong Kong and lead author of the study published in Nature Photonics. 

CREDIT: Radboud University, EARA Media Bank