title: Nanoparticle-based probes to enable noninvasive imaging of proteolytic activity for cancer diagnosis.
abstract: Proteases play a key role in tumor biology, with high expression levels often correlating with poor prognosis for cancer patients - making them excellent disease markers for tumor diagnosis. Despite their significance, quantifying proteolytic activity in vivo remains a challenge. Nanoparticles, with their ability to serve as scaffolds having unique chemical, optical and magnetic properties, offer the promise of merging diagnostic medicine with material engineering. Such nanoparticles can interact preferentially with proteases enriched in tumors, providing the ability to assess disease state in a noninvasive and spatiotemporal manner. We review recent advances in the development of nanoparticles for imaging and quantification of proteolytic activity in tumor models, and prognosticate future advancements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Tareq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anani
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Discovery & Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, 4306 Walker Building, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Allan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008280:Magnetics; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D061848:Optical Imaging; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D059748:Proteolysis; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: cancer diagnosis; imaging probes; in vivo imaging; molecular imaging; proteases; surface modification; tumor microenvironment