Anchored Proteinase-Targetable Optomagnetic Nanoprobes for Molecular Imaging of Invasive Cancer Cells

摘要

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are attractive targets for molecular imaging because degrading and modifying the extracellular matrix by enzymatic activity is required for the invasive process of cancer cells.Among the large family of MMPs, increasing evidence suggests that a subclass of the membrane-anchored proteinases, the membrane-type (MT) MMPs, plays dominant roles in controlling invasive cancer cell behavior. In particular, MT1-MMP not only plays a direct and essential role in allowing tumor cells to invade into connective tissue, but also provides a direct cellular target for molecular imaging to detect invasive cancer cells, in comparison with secreted, soluble MMPs.