Zhuxian Zhou1,2, Zheng Han1, and Zheng-Rong Lu1
1Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States, 2Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, People's Republic of
To produce MRI detectable signal enhancement for the biomarker on cancer cell surface, we developed a targeted host-guest nanosized contrast agent cRGD-POSS-βCD-(DOTA-Gd)-Cy5. The nanosized host-guest systems are preferable for facile synthesis of customized and functionalized imaging agent. Here, a cyclic peptide cRGD targeting to cancer cell αvβ3-integrin, a macrocyclic Gd(III) chelate and Cy5 fluorescent probes were loaded on the nanosized carrier by host-guest interaction. cRGD-POSS-βCD-(DOTA-Gd)-Cy5 can provide strong contrast enhancement to delineate malignant tumors during molecular MR and fluorescent imaging in a mouse 4T1 breast cancer model.