Proteins promote cancer nanotheranostics

Abstract

Utilizing molecular imaging probes can increase the detection rate and diagnosis accuracy of tumors. However, the non-specific adsorption of nanoprobes is seriously affecting the detection accuracy and sensitivity. Leveraging on the unique domains and amino acid sequences of bio-endogenous proteins, some specific tactics, including surface engineering of nanoparticles with proteins, and protein-mediated biomimetic synthesis of nanoprobes have been developed in a green chemistry fashion in our group [1][2][3][4]. This protein-mediated cancer nanotheranostic strategy is of great significance in reducing nonspecific adsorption of nanoprobes for in vitro diagnosis and in vivo applications. Capitalizing on this strategy, protein-coated nanoparticles with single-/dual-imaging modality were fabricated. Furthermore, therapeutical moieties can be imparted to the above structures in a one-pot manner for enhanced tumor theranostics. Particlularly, the operating mechanisms of these reactions are preliminarily studied [5].