{
  "abstract": "Targeted molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of HER2-positive breast cancer remains challenging because of the limited sensitivity of conventional gadolinium-based contrast agents. Herein, we developed multifunctional gadolinium-loaded liposomes functionalized with A9-derived HER2-targeting peptides to achieve selective tumor recognition and enhanced MRI performance. The liposomes exhibited good colloidal stability, enhanced relaxivity compared with free Gd-DTPA, and negligible cytotoxicity. Surface functionalization significantly increased binding to HER2-overexpressing BT-474 cells, with peptide-functionalized liposomes showing the highest affinity. In a preliminary HER2-positive breast cancer xenograft model, peptide-targeted liposomes showed tumor uptake and sustained MRI contrast enhancement, whereas non-functionalized liposomes showed lower tumour contrast enhancement. These preliminary observations support further investigation of peptide-functionalized gadolinium liposomes as a promising molecular MRI platform for HER2-targeted imaging and future theranostic applications.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council (CNR) Via De Amicis, 95 80145 Naples Italy.",
    "IRCCS SYNLAB SDN Via G. Ferraris 144 80146 Naples Italy.",
    "Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Crystallography Via Vivaldi, 43 81100 Caserta Italy.",
    "CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore Via Gaetano Salvatore 486 80145 Naples Italy.",
    "Department of Pharmacy, Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sui Peptidi Bioattivi \"Carlo Pedone\" (CIRPeB), University of Naples \"Federico II\" Via Tommaso de Amicis 95 80131 Naples Italy.",
    "Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II Via Delpino 1 80137 Naples Italy adegreco@unina.it.",
    "Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council (CNR) Via P. Castellino, 111 80131 Naples Italy stefania.deluca@cnr.it."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 12,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Serena Monti",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8777-7837"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Enrico Gallo",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6132-4143"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ylenia Ferrara"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Valentina Verdoliva"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Luca Licenziato"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Cristina Terlizzi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Annachiara Sarnella"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sandra Albanese"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Carmen Avagliano"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Antonella Accardo",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7899-2359"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Adelaide Greco"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Stefania De Luca",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7078-1696"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6aaz3g9wb4gd4.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1039/d6na00729e",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13691995",
  "id": "6aaz3g9wb4gd4",
  "issns": [
    "2516-0230"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921217",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Lanthanide and Transition Metal Complexes"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222925221",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13691995?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13691995",
  "pmid": "42921217",
  "published": "2026-10-19",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6aaz3g9wb4gd4.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:33Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42921217",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921217"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Lanthanide and Transition Metal Complexes",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Peptide-functionalized gadolinium liposomes enable HER2-targeted molecular MRI of breast cancer.",
  "title_text": "Peptide-functionalized gadolinium liposomes enable HER2-targeted molecular MRI of breast cancer.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:33Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6aaz3g9wb4gd4",
  "venue": "Nanoscale advances",
  "versions": []
}