Issues

Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor—targeted magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are produced by conjugating a near-IR dye—labeled recombinant peptide containing the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase plasminogen activator. Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor is upregulated in breast cancer and tumor stromal cells. Systemic delivery of the receptor targeted nanoparticles leads to the accumulation of the nanoparticle imaging probes in the primary and metastatic tumor lesions in a mouse mammary tumor model and allows for the detection of breast cancer by MRI and optical imaging. For further details, please see Yang and colleagues on page 4722 in this issue.