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Novel peptide targeting integrin αvβ3‐rich tumor cells by magnetic resonance imaging
Author(s) -
Wu Guoqiu,
Wang Xiaodong,
Deng Gang,
Wu Linyuan,
Ju Shenghong,
Teng Gaojun,
Yao Yuyu,
Wang Xiyong,
Liu Naifeng
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.22620
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , integrin , peptide , nuclear magnetic resonance , cancer research , medicine , chemistry , cell , radiology , biochemistry , physics
Purpose: To investigate the targeting activity of the peptide (named P1c) derived from connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) to αvβ3‐rich tumor cells. Materials and Methods: P1c was synthesized and conjugated with ultrasuperparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIOs) coated with meso‐2,3‐dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). The specific binding activity of P1c‐USPIOs to αvβ3 was verified by solid phase binding assay. The combination of P1c‐USPIOs with a human primary liver cancer cell (Bel 7402) with αvβ3‐positive expression and uptake of P1c‐USPIOs by cells was investigated by Prussian blue staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The targeting activity of the probe in vivo was also evaluated using a small‐animal tumor model by MRI. Results: The cell uptake of P1c‐USPIOs was observed in a dose‐dependent manner, whereas no significant particle uptake was found in the plain USPIOs group. The differences on T2*‐weighted imaging were also found by MRI and the signal intensity (SI) was statistically reduced after coculture of Bel 7402 cells with P1c‐USPIOs at a concentration of 20–80 μg/mL compared with plain USPIOs ( P < 0.05). The in vivo study showed that the signal reduction was distributed mainly in the periphery and some central areas of the tumor. The tumor‐to‐muscle CNR (contrast‐to‐noise ratio) at 12 hours after the administration of the P1c‐USPIOs was statistically significantly different compared to those at 0 hour, 1 hour, or the plain USPIO group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The peptide P1c might be a good candidate as a targeting carrier for drugs or tracers. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.