Nerve‐Sparing Gynecologic Surgery Enabled by A Near‐Infrared Nerve‐Specific Fluorophore Using Existing Clinical Fluorescence Imaging Systems

Patients undergoing gynecological procedures suffer from lasting side effects due to intraoperative nerve damage. Small, delicate nerves with complex and nonuniform branching patterns in the female pelvic neuroanatomy make nerve‐sparing efforts during standard gynecological procedures such as hysterectomy, cystectomy, and colorectal cancer resection difficult, and thus many patients are left with incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Herein, a near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent nerve‐specific contrast agent, LGW08‐35, that is spectrally compatible with clinical fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) systems is formulated and characterized for rapid implementation for nerve‐sparing gynecologic surgeries. The toxicology, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of micelle formulated LGW08‐35 are examined, enabling the determination of the optimal imaging doses and time points, blood and tissue uptake parameters, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Application of the formulated fluorophore to imaging of female rat and swine pelvic neuroanatomy validates the continued clinical translation and use for real‐time identification of important nerves such as the femoral, sciatic, lumbar, iliac, and hypogastric nerves. Further development of LGW08‐35 for clinical use will unlock a valuable tool for surgeons in direct visualization of important nerves and contribute to the ongoing characterization of the female pelvic neuroanatomy to eliminate the debilitating side effects of nerve damage during gynecological procedures. Surgical nerve damage is a clinical challenge that commonly affects patients undergoing gynecological procedures. A fluorescent imaging agent and formulation that highlights nerves for improved identification and visualization during surgery has been created and validated as safe and effective in preclinical animal models. Further development will enable first in human studies towards Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.