Peptide Amphiphiles Hitchhike on Endogenous Biomolecules for Enhanced Cancer Imaging and Therapy

L Li Xiang M Morgan R. Stewart (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) K Kailin Mooney (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) M Mingchong Dai (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) S Samuel Drennan (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) S Samantha Holland (Neuro‐Oncology Blood‐Brain Barrier Program Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97239 USA) A Arnaud Quentel (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) S Sinan Sabuncu (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) B Benjamin R. Kingston (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) I Isabel J. Dengos (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) K Karla Bonic (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) F Florian Goncalves X Xin Yi (Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University) M Michael I. Henderson (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) S Srivathsan Ranganathan (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) B Bruce P. Branchaud (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA) L Leslie L. Muldoon (Neuro‐Oncology Blood‐Brain Barrier Program Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97239 USA) R Ramon F. Barajas Jr (Advanced Imaging Research Center Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97239 USA) J Jared M. Fischer A Adem Yildirim (CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA)

Abstract

Abstract The interactions of nanomaterials with biomolecules in vivo determine their biological fate. Here, it is shown that self‐assembled peptide amphiphile (PA) nanostructures can dynamically interact with endogenous biomolecules and take advantage of naturally occurring processes to target a broad range of solid tumors. In circulation, self‐assembled PA nanostructures disassemble and reassemble mainly with lipoproteins, which prolongs blood circulation and dramatically improves tumor accumulation and retention. Mechanistic studies suggested that PAs internalize into cancer cells by assembling with their cell membranes and independently of specific receptors. By exploiting these interactions, a PA developed in this study (namely Self‐Assembly ‐ Glutamic acid, SA‐E) demonstrates specific accumulation in various xenograft, syngeneic, patient‐derived xenograft, or transgenic rodent models. In addition, SA‐E enabled the effective delivery of highly potent chemotherapy to different syngeneic and xenografted tumors with reduced side effects. With its simple and modular design and universal tumor accumulation mechanism, SA‐E represents a promising platform for broad applications in cancer imaging and therapy.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 3
Published January 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (20)

L

Li Xiang

M

Morgan R. Stewart

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

K

Kailin Mooney

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

M

Mingchong Dai

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

S

Samuel Drennan

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

S

Samantha Holland

Neuro‐Oncology Blood‐Brain Barrier Program Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97239 USA

A

Arnaud Quentel

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

S

Sinan Sabuncu

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

B

Benjamin R. Kingston

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

I

Isabel J. Dengos

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

K

Karla Bonic

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

F

Florian Goncalves

X

Xin Yi

Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Pesticide Science, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University

M

Michael I. Henderson

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

S

Srivathsan Ranganathan

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

B

Bruce P. Branchaud

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA

L

Leslie L. Muldoon

Neuro‐Oncology Blood‐Brain Barrier Program Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97239 USA

R

Ramon F. Barajas Jr

Advanced Imaging Research Center Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97239 USA

J

Jared M. Fischer

A

Adem Yildirim

CEDAR Knight Cancer Institute School of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Portland Oregon 97201 USA