The extracellular matrix (ECM) consists of proteins and carbohydrates that supports different biological structures and processes such as tissue development, elasticity, and preservation of organ structure. Diseases involving inflammation, fibrosis, tumor invasion, and injury are all attributed to the transition of the ECM from homeostasis to remodeling, which can significantly change the biochemical and biomechanical features of ECM components. While contrast agents have played an indispensable role in facilitating clinical diagnosis of diseases using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there is a strong need to develop novel biomarker-targeted imaging probes for in vivo visualization of biological processes and pathological alterations at a cellular and molecular level, for both early diagnosis and monitoring drug treatment. Herein, we will first review the pathological accumulation and characterization of ECM proteins recognized as important molecular features of diseases. Developments in MRI probes targeting ECM proteins such as collagen, fibronectin, and elastin via conjugation of existing contrast agents to targeting moieties and their applications to various diseases, are also reviewed. We have also reviewed our progress in the development of collagen-targeted protein MRI contrast agent with significant improvement in relaxivity and metal binding specificity, and their applications in early detection of fibrosis and metastatic cancer. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > in vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Peptide-Based Structures Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.

中文翻译：

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使用磁共振成像用靶向探针对细胞外基质蛋白进行分子成像。

细胞外基质（ECM）由蛋白质和碳水化合物组成，它们支持不同的生物结构和过程，例如组织发育，弹性和器官结构的保存。涉及炎症，纤维化，肿瘤浸润和损伤的疾病均归因于ECM从稳态到重塑的转变，这可以显着改变ECM组件的生化和生物力学特征。尽管造影剂在使用磁共振成像（MRI）促进疾病的临床诊断中起着不可或缺的作用，但迫切需要开发靶向生物标志物的新型成像探针，以在体内可视化细胞和分子的生物学过程和病理变化级别，用于早期诊断和监测药物治疗。在这里 我们将首先回顾被认为是疾病重要分子特征的ECM蛋白的病理学积累和特征。还综述了通过将现有的造影剂与靶标部分偶联来靶向ECM蛋白（例如胶原蛋白，纤连蛋白和弹性蛋白）的MRI探针的开发及其在各种疾病中的应用。我们还回顾了我们在胶原靶向蛋白MRI造影剂的开发方面所取得的进展，该进展在松弛度和金属结合特异性方面有显着改善，并将其应用于纤维化和转移性癌症的早期检测中。本文归类于：诊断工具>体内纳米诊断和成像受生物启发的纳米材料>基于肽的结构受生物启发的纳米材料>基于蛋白质和病毒的结构。