title: Targeted dual-color silica nanoparticles provide univocal identification of micrometastases in preclinical models of colorectal cancer.
abstract: METHODS
  Despite the recent introduction of targeted bio-drugs, the scarcity of successful therapeutic options for advanced colorectal cancer remains a limiting factor in patient management. The efficacy of curative surgical interventions can only be extended through earlier detection of metastatic foci, which is dependent on both the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We propose a high-performance imaging platform based on silica-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles doped with rhodamine B and cyanine 5. Simultaneous detection of these dyes is the basis for background subtraction and signal amplification, thus providing high-sensitivity imaging. The functionalization of poly(ethylene glycol) tails on the external face of the nanoparticles with metastasis-specific peptides guarantees their homing to and accumulation at target tissues, resulting in specific visualization, even of submillimetric metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results reported here demonstrate that our rationally designed modular nanosystems have the ability to produce a breakthrough in the detection of micrometastases for subsequent translation to clinics in the immediate future.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and University of Torino, Department of Oncological Sciences, Candiolo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soster
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juris
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonacchi
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montalti
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rampazzo
authors.forename: Nelsi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaccheroni
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garagnani
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bussolino
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prodi
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchiò
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000379:methods*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D053769:Nanocapsules; D010455:Peptides; D012822:Silicon Dioxide