Radiation-Guided Peptide Delivery in a Mouse Model of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the HVGGSSV peptide, exploring radiation-guided delivery in a mouse model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods. Mice with CNE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma were assigned to two different groups treated with Cy7-NHS and Cy7-HVGGSSV, respectively. Meanwhile, each mouse received a single dose of 3 Gy radiation. Biological distribution of the recombinant peptide was assessed on an in vivo small animal imaging system. Results. The experimental group showed maximum fluorescence intensity in irradiated tumors treated with Cy7-labeled HVGGSSV, while untreated (0 Gy) control tumors showed lower intensity levels. Fluorescence intensities of tumors in the right hind limbs of experimental animals were 7.84 × 10⁷ ± 1.13 × 10⁷, 1.35 × 10⁸ ± 2.66 × 10⁷, 4.05 × 10⁸ ± 1.75 × 10⁷, 5.57 × 10⁸ ± 3.47 × 10⁷, and 9.26 × 10⁷ ± 1.73 × 10⁷ photons/s/cm² higher compared with left hind limb values at 1, 2, 15, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Fluorescence intensities of tumor in the right hind limbs of the experimental group were 1.66 × 10⁸ ± 1.71 × 10⁷, 1.51 × 10⁸ ± 3.23 × 10⁷, 5.38 × 10⁸ ± 1.96 × 10⁷, 5.89 × 10⁸ ± 3.57 × 10⁷, and 1.62 × 10⁸ ± 1.69 × 10⁷ photons/s/cm² higher compared with control group values at 1, 2, 15, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Fluorescence was not specifically distributed in the control group. Compared with low fluorescence intensity in the heart, lungs, and tumors, high fluorescence distribution was found in the liver and kidney at 48 h. Conclusions. HVGGSSV was selectively bound to irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, acting as a targeting transport carrier for radiation-guided drugs that are mainly metabolized in the kidney and liver.