Engineered Near-Infrared Fluorescent Protein Assemblies for Robust Bioimaging and Therapeutic Applications.

Abstract

Fluorescent proteins are investigated extensively as markers for the imaging of cells and tissues that are treated by gene transfection. However, limited transfection efficiency and lack of targeting restrict the clinical application of this method rooted in the challenging development of robust fluorescent proteins for in vivo bioimaging. To address this, a new type of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent protein assemblies manufactured by genetic engineering is presented. Due to the formation of well-defined nanoparticles and spectral operation within the phototherapeutic window, the NIR protein aggregates allow stable and specific tumor imaging via simple exogenous injection. Importantly, in vivo tumor metastases are tracked and this overcomes the limitations of in vivo imaging that can only be implemented relying on the gene transfection of fluorescent proteins. Concomitantly, the efficient loading of hydrophobic drugs into the protein nanoparticles is demonstrated facilitating the therapy of tumors in a mouse model. It is believed that these theranostic NIR fluorescent protein assemblies, hence, show great potential for the in vivo detection and therapy of cancer.

• Authors: Jingjing Li, Bo Li, Jing Sun, Chao Ma, Sikang Wan, Yuanxin Li, Robert Göstl, Andreas Herrmann, Kai Liu, Hongjie Zhang
• Journal: Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) (Adv Mater) Vol. 32 Issue 17 Pg. e2000964 (Apr 2020) ISSN: 1521-4095 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 32162422 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Drug Carriers
• Luminescent Proteins
• Peptides
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Thiostrepton

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (chemistry, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Drug Carriers (chemistry)
• Genetic Engineering
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (drug therapy, secondary)
• Luminescent Proteins (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
• Mice
• Nanoparticles (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Peptides (chemistry)
• Polyethylene Glycols (chemistry)
• Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
• Thiostrepton (chemistry, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Transplantation, Heterologous