Peptide-based molecular beacons for cancer imaging and therapy

Tracy W.B. Liu, Juan Chen, Gang Zheng

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Peptide-based molecular beacons are Förster resonance energy transfer-based target-activatable probes. They offer control of fluorescence emission in response to specific cancer targets and thus are useful tools for in vivo cancer imaging. With our increasing knowledge about human genome in health and disease, peptide-based "smart" probes are continually developed for in vivo optical imaging of specific molecular targets, biological pathways and cancer progression and diagnosis. A class of fluorescent photosensitizers further extends the application of peptide beacons to cancer therapeutics. This review highlights the applications of peptide beacons in cancer imaging, the simultaneous treatment and response monitoring and smart therapeutics with a focus on recent improvements in the design of these probes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1123-1134
Number of pages12
JournalAmino Acids
Volume41
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • Activatable probes
  • Molecular beacons
  • Optical imaging
  • Photodynamic therapy
  • Proteases

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Organic Chemistry

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