title: A Novel Strategy for Surface Modification of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Lung Cancer Imaging.
abstract: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles are widely used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as versatile ultra-sensitive nanoprobes for cellular and molecular imaging of cancer. In this study, we report a one-step procedure for the surface functionalization of SPIO nanoparticles with a lung cancer-targeting peptide. The hydrophobic surfactants on the as-synthesized SPIO are displaced by the peptide containing a poly(ethylene glycol)-tethered cysteine residue through ligand exchange. The resulting SPIO particles are biocompatible and demonstrate high T(2) relaxivity. The nanoprobes are specific in targeting α(v)β(6)-expressing lung cancer cells as demonstrated by MR imaging and Prussian blue staining. This facile surface chemistry and the functional design of the proposed SPIO system may provide a powerful nanoplatform for the molecular diagnosis of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75390, USA ; Tel: +1 214 645 6370.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chunfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shunzi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chalermchai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Khemtong
authors.forename: Su-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ruhai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Minna
authors.forename: Kathlynn C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao