Microarray-Based CD38 Peptide Probe Screening for Multiple Myeloma Imaging.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• CD38 expression is crucial for multiple myeloma (MM) therapy, aiding in lesion detection and treatment efficacy prediction.
• Accurate MM diagnosis necessitates advanced molecular probes for targeted imaging and therapy, requiring high-throughput screening platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a microarray chip-based strategy for high-throughput screening of peptide probes targeting CD38.
• To develop novel peptide probes for multimodal imaging and potential therapeutic applications in CD38-positive multiple myeloma.

Main Methods:

• A microarray chip platform was utilized to screen a peptide library for CD38-specific binders.
• Identified peptides (CA-1, CA-2) were characterized for specificity and affinity (K_D of 10^-7 M).
• Peptide probes were labeled with indocyanine green (ICG) and ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA for multimodal imaging in tumor-bearing mice.

Main Results:

• Two novel CD38-targeting peptides, CA-1 and CA-2, were successfully identified.
• Molecular and cellular assays confirmed the specificity and high affinity of the developed peptide probes.
• Small animal fluorescence and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging demonstrated specific enrichment of peptide probes in CD38-positive Ramos tumors.

Conclusions:

• A microchip-based screening approach is effective for developing targeted molecular probes.
• The identified peptide probes show significant potential as imaging agents for CD38-positive multiple myeloma.
• This strategy offers a promising avenue for advancing diagnostic tools in multiple myeloma.