Novel peptide targeting integrin αvβ3-rich tumor cells by magnetic resonance imaging

To investigate the targeting activity of the peptide (named P1c) derived from connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) to αvβ3-rich tumor cells.

P1c was synthesized and conjugated with ultrasuperparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIOs) coated with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). The specific binding activity of P1c-USPIOs to αvβ3 was verified by solid phase binding assay. The combination of P1c-USPIOs with a human primary liver cancer cell (Bel 7402) with αvβ3-positive expression and uptake of P1c-USPIOs by cells was investigated by Prussian blue staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The targeting activity of the probe in vivo was also evaluated using a small-animal tumor model by MRI.

The cell uptake of P1c-USPIOs was observed in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no significant particle uptake was found in the plain USPIOs group. The differences on T2*-weighted imaging were also found by MRI and the signal intensity (SI) was statistically reduced after coculture of Bel 7402 cells with P1c-USPIOs at a concentration of 20-80 μg/mL compared with plain USPIOs (P < 0.05). The in vivo study showed that the signal reduction was distributed mainly in the periphery and some central areas of the tumor. The tumor-to-muscle CNR (contrast-to-noise ratio) at 12 hours after the administration of the P1c-USPIOs was statistically significantly different compared to those at 0 hour, 1 hour, or the plain USPIO group (P < 0.05).

The peptide P1c might be a good candidate as a targeting carrier for drugs or tracers.