Activatable iRGD-based peptide monolith: Targeting, internalization, and fluorescence activation for precise tumor imaging

Hong Jun Cho, Sung Jin Lee, Sung Jun Park, Chang H. Paik, Sang Myung Lee, Sehoon Kim, Yoon Sik Lee

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    35 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A disulfide-bridged cyclic RGD peptide, named iRGD (internalizing RGD, c(CRGDK/RGPD/EC)), is known to facilitate tumor targeting as well as tissue penetration. After the RGD motif-induced targeting on αv integrins expressed near tumor tissue, iRGD encounters proteolytic cleavage to expose the CendR motif that promotes penetration into cancer cells via the interaction with neuropilin-1. Based on these proteolytic cleavage and internalization mechanism, we designed an iRGD-based monolithic imaging probe that integrates multiple functions (cancer-specific targeting, internalization and fluorescence activation) within a small peptide framework. To provide the capability of activatable fluorescence signaling, we conjugated a fluorescent dye to the N-terminal of iRGD, which was linked to the internalizing sequence (CendR motif), and a quencher to the opposite C-terminal. It turned out that fluorescence activation of the dye/quencher-conjugated monolithic peptide probe requires dual (reductive and proteolytic) cleavages on both disulfide and amide bond of iRGD peptide. Furthermore, the cleavage of the iRGD peptide leading to fluorescence recovery was indeed operative depending on the tumor-related angiogenic receptors (αvβ3 integrin and neuropilin-1) in vitro as well as in vivo. Compared to an ‘always fluorescent’ iRGD control probe without quencher conjugation, the dye/quencher-conjugated activatable monolithic peptide probe visualized tumor regions more precisely with lower background noise after intravenous injection, owing to the multifunctional responses specific to tumor microenvironment. All these results, along with minimal in vitro and in vivo toxicity profiles, suggest potential of the iRGD-based activatable monolithic peptide probe as a promising imaging agent for precise tumor diagnosis.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)177-184
    Number of pages8
    JournalJournal of Controlled Release
    Volume237
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016 Sept 10

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2016 Elsevier B.V.

    Keywords

    • Activatable probe
    • Internalizing RGD (iRGD)
    • Peptide monolith
    • Tumor imaging

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pharmaceutical Science

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