Targeting of peptide conjugated magnetic nanoparticles to urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expressing cells
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles are currently being used as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent in vivo, mainly by their passive accumulation in tissues of interest. However, a higher specificity can ideally be achieved when the nanoparticles are targeted towards cell specific receptors and this may also facilitate specific drug delivery by an enhanced target-mediated endocytosis. We report efficient peptide-mediated targeting of magnetic nanoparticles to cells expressing the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a surface biomarker for poor patient prognosis shared by several cancers including breast, colorectal, and gastric cancers. Conjugation of a uPAR specific targeting peptide onto polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated USPIO nanoparticles by click chemistry resulted in a five times higher uptake in vitro in a uPAR positive cell line compared to nanoparticles carrying a non-binding control peptide. In accordance with specific receptor-mediated recognition, a low uptake was observed in the presence of an excess of ATF, a natural ligand for uPAR. The uPAR specific magnetic nanoparticles can potentially provide a useful supplement for tumor patient management when combined with MRI and drug delivery.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Nanoscale |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 17 |
Pages (from-to) | 8192-201 |
Number of pages | 10 |
ISSN | 2040-3364 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 7 Sep 2013 |
- Amino Acid Sequence, Click Chemistry, Ferric Compounds, Fluorescent Dyes, HEK293 Cells, Humans, Magnetite Nanoparticles, Microscopy, Confocal, Peptides, Polyethylene Glycols, Protein Binding, Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
Research areas
ID: 107124749