Abstract
Targeting cell surface receptors for specific drug delivery in cancer has garnered lot of attention. Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a surface biomarker, is overexpressed on many tumours including breast, colorectal, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Binding of growth factor domain (GFD) of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) with uPAR lead to its close conformation, and allow somatomedin B domain (SMB) of vitronectin binding by allosteric modulation. In-silico docking of uPAR with GFD and SMB peptides was performed to identify potential binding affinity. Herein, we report fluorescently labeled peptide functionalized AuNPs with a mixed self-assembled monolayer of intercalating chitosan polymer for efficient targeting and imaging of uPAR-positive cells. The biophysical characterization of nanoconjugates and uPAR-specific targeting was assessed by FACS, cell adhesion, and fluorescence imaging. AuNPs/chitosan/GFD+SMB peptides showed higher uptake as compared to AuNPs/chitosan/GFD, and AuNPs/chitosan/SMB that can be utilized as a tool for molecular targeting and imaging in metastasis.
Peptide functionalized gold nanoparticles for efficient imaging in cancer diagnostics. [Display omitted]
•uPAR specific targeting peptide was generated via in-silico modeling and docking.•Chitosan coated AuNPs functionalized with uPAR specific peptides GFD and SMB•In-vitro studies were done to observe the extent of uptake and internalization.