Selective NIR imaging probe for tumors
This project highlights the development of an innovative cyclic octapeptide-based molecular imaging probe labeled with a near-infrared dye that selectively targets phosphorylated Annexin A2 (pANXA2) in solid tumors. By exploiting the conserved cancer hallmark of aberrant pANXA2 expression in a calcium-rich tumor microenvironment, the probe achieves high-affinity binding to the invasive tumor edges and traffics to necrotic cores via macrophages. This novel probe, with its high precision, enables accurate tumor imaging, detection of metastatic lesions, and fluorescence-guided surgery in mouse models, reassuring the audience about its potential as a groundbreaking tool for broad tumor diagnostics and targeted therapeutic delivery.
