title: Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys peptide-modified PEGylated dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles for targeted computed tomography imaging of breast carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate cyclo (Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys) peptide (RGD)-modified PEGylated dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles (PEGylated Au DENPs-RGD) for targeted computed tomography (CT) imaging of breast carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  PEGylated Au DENPs-RGD were synthesized and characterized. Then, the PEGylated Au DENPs-RGD for targeted CT imaging were investigated using the MDA-MB-435 cell line, an integrin-rich breast carcinoma cells, and mice with MDA-MB-435 xenograft tumors. Finally, silver enhancement staining and integrin αvβ3 immunohistochemistry of the tumors were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The synthesized PEGylated Au DENPs-RGD were spherical, water dispersible and biocompatible nanoprobes with a gold nanoparticle core size of 2.8 nm. Due to the presence of the Au nanoparticles, the PEGylated Au DENPs-RGD displayed a higher x-ray attenuation intensity than Omnipaque at the same Au or I concentrations. The conjugated RGD ligand can specifically identify and target overexpressed integrin receptors on MDA-MB-435 cells. After intravenous injection, these nanoprobes accumulated in the targeted area of mice with MDA-MB-435 xenograft tumors, which enabled the tumor to be detected by CT imaging. The histological results confirmed the imaging results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PEGylated Au DENPs-RGD can be used as targeted nanoprobes with good biocompatibility for targeted CT imaging and diagnosis of integrin-positive tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Kangan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Zhuoli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.|Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Linfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong, University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Zhiyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Zhiyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Guixiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D004151:Dipeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; C039424:lysylphenylalanine; D006046:Gold; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid
keywords: RGD peptides; breast carcinoma; dendrimers; gold nanoparticles; integrin; targeted computed tomography imaging