A novel polymer platform for endoscopic tattooing with high efficacy and safety

TL;DR

Researchers developed a new, safe, and long-lasting tattoo dye using PPy/PVP nanoparticles for marking gastrointestinal lesions during endoscopic procedures.

Contribution

A novel PPy/PVP nanoparticle solution is introduced as a safe and durable endoscopic tattoo dye.

Findings

PPy/PVP nanoparticles showed biosafety in both in vitro and in vivo tests.

The dye remained stable in the digestive tract of a pig model and lasted over 180 days in mouse subcutaneous tissue.

The new dye offers improved stability, safety, and longevity compared to traditional tattoo dyes.

Abstract

Endoscopic tattooing plays a pivotal role in modern endoscopic localization of gastrointestinal lesions, facilitating further surgical intervention and aiding in the postoperative identification and repositioning of lesions. However, traditional endoscopic tattoo dyes often suffer from drawbacks such as side effects, short tattoo duration, and high overall costs. In this study, we developed polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-modified polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles by oxidizing pyrrole in a PVP aqueous solution to create a PPy/PVP nanoparticle solution. This innovation aims to enhance endoscopic tattooing efficiency and mitigate the limitations associated with current tattooing methods. Both in vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed the biosafety of PPy/PVP nanoparticles. Endoscopic tattooing experiments conducted in a pig model demonstrated the dye’s stability within the digestive tract. Similarly, subcutaneous tissue tattooing experiments performed in a mouse model revealed the sustained stability of the PPy/PVP tattoo dye for at least 180 days. With its robust stability, safety, and longevity, PPy/PVP nanoparticles hold promise as novel tattoo dyes for marking intestinal lesion sites. This advancement has the potential to enhance the accuracy of lesion localization and long-term tracking.

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