pHLIP-modified magnetic nanoparticles for targeting acidic diseased tissue†
Abstract
Covalent immobilization of a pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) onto Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles was carried out resulting in the formation of MRI-visible materials able to specifically accumulate in acidic damaged tissue. The pH-dependent pHLIP-mediated binding of the obtained nanoconjugates to cells in acidic environment was demonstrated on HTC cells in vitro and in a mouse LLC tumour model in vivo.