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In Situ Self‐Assembled Nanofibers Precisely Target Cancer‐Associated Fibroblasts for Improved Tumor Imaging
Author(s) -
Zhao XiaoXiao,
Li LiLi,
Zhao Ying,
An HongWei,
Cai Qian,
Lang JiaYan,
Han XueXiang,
Peng Bo,
Fei Yue,
Liu Hao,
Qin Hao,
Nie Guangjun,
Wang Hao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201908185
Subject(s) - in situ , nanofiber , chemistry , biophysics , fibroblast activation protein, alpha , molecular probe , peptide , cancer associated fibroblasts , tumor microenvironment , cancer , cancer research , nanotechnology , tumor cells , materials science , biochemistry , medicine , biology , dna , organic chemistry
Tumor complexity makes the development of highly sensitive tumor imaging probes an arduous task. Here, we construct a peptide‐based near‐infrared probe that is responsive to fibroblast activation protein‐α (FAP‐α), and specifically forms nanofibers on the surface of cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in situ. The assembly/aggregation‐induced retention (AIR) effect results in enhanced accumulation and retention of the probe around the tumor, resulting in a 5.5‐fold signal enhancement in the tumor 48 h after administration compared to that of a control molecule that does not aggregate. The probe provides a prolonged detectable window of 48 h for tumor diagnosis. The selective assembly of the probe results in a signal intensity over four‐ and fivefold higher in tumor than in the liver and kidney, respectively. With enhanced tumor imaging capability, this probe can visualize small tumors around 2 mm in diameter.