A Novel Strategy for Surface Modification of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Lung Cancer Imaging.
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.
Huang
Gang
G
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.
Zhang
Chunfu
C
Li
Shunzi
S
Khemtong
Chalermchai
C
Yang
Su-Geun
SG
Tian
Ruhai
R
Minna
John D
JD
Brown
Kathlynn C
KC
Gao
Jinming
J