PLZ4-nanoporphyrin

PLZ4-nanoporphyrin (PNP) is a targeted theranostic nanoparticle platform developed primarily by researchers at the University of California, Davis, for the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. The platform consists of a self-assembled micelle formed from porphyrin-polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugates, which are surface-functionalized with the PLZ4 peptide ligand. PLZ4 is a D-amino acid-containing peptide identified through combinatorial chemistry that specifically binds to cell surface receptors, such as integrin alpha-V beta-3 (αvβ3), which are overexpressed on bladder cancer cells. As a theranostic agent, PLZ4-nanoporphyrin enables fluorescence-based photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and can be activated by near-infrared light to produce reactive oxygen species for photodynamic therapy (PDT) or heat for photothermal therapy (PTT). The hydrophobic core of the nanoporphyrin can also be loaded with chemotherapeutic agents like doxorubicin to provide targeted drug delivery and synergistic chemo-phototherapy.

Other names

PLZ4-targeted nanoporphyrinPLZ-4-targeted nanoporphyrinPLZ 4-targeted nanoporphyrinPLZ4-nanoporphyrinsPLZ-4-nanoporphyrinsPLZ 4-nanoporphyrins