Gastroresistant oral peptide for fluorescence imaging of colonic inflammation

摘要: The use of molecular markers for inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract could empower optical imaging modalities early diagnosis and eventually personalized timely treatments. A major hurdle to widespread functional fluorescence is absence suitable contrast agents, particular be administered via oral route due usual proteolytic susceptibility biomarkers. By designing a retro-inverso peptide, starting from previously described sequence specific N-cadherin, we achieved resistance degradation even slightly improved specificity towards target, both ex vivo experimental colitis. Simulations at fundamental level suggested that introduced modifications did not affect folding leaving its ability interact with binding pocket monomeric N-cadherin unaltered, when fluorescently labeled. Possible further derivatization this envisaged extend potential designed peptide as diagnostic or theranostic agent route.