The Further Characterization of the Specifically Binding Peptide to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Previously, we reported a novel 12-mer peptide binding to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells speci¯cally and sensitively, and it was screened by using a phage displayed peptide library. To identify the potential of this peptide to be used to the early diagnosis and drug delivery of HCC clinic, the synthesized peptide probe was further characterized by using the assays of cell immuno°uorescence and tissue chip. The results of cultured cell immuno°uorescence assay show that the peptide probe binds to HCC cells with satisfactory speci¯city and sensitivity. The results of tissue chip show that the peptide probe can bind to the most common types of HCC tissues, especially to the HCC tissues di®erentiated at grade II. All further characterized results indicate that this peptide is of the great potential to be used as a HCC targeting candidate for the early molecular imaging diagnosis and targeting nanoparticle or drug delivery in HCC clinic practice.