Activatable cell penetrating peptides linked to nanoparticles as dual probes for in vivo fluorescence and MR imaging of proteases.

ABSTRACT: High-resolution imaging of molecules intrinsically involved in malignancy and metastasis would be of great value for clinical detection and staging of tumors. We now report in vivo visualization of matrix metalloproteinase activities by MRI and fluorescence of dendrimeric nanoparticles coated with activatable cell penetrating peptides (ACPPs), labeled with Cy5, gadolinium, or both. Uptake of such nanoparticles in tumors is 4- to 15-fold higher than for unconjugated ACPPs. With fluorescent molecules, we are able to detect residual tumor and metastases as small as 200 microm, which can be resected under fluorescence guidance and analyzed histopathologically with fluorescence microscopy. We show that uptake via this mechanism is comparable to that of other near infrared protease sensors, with

SUBMITTER: Olson ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2840175 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature