Imaging: Low-Density Lipoprotein-Mimicking Nanoparticles for Tumor-Targeted Theranostic Applications (Small 2/2015)

Biomimetic lipid nanoparticles are developed for the tumor-targeted co-delivery of anti-cancer drugs and superparamagnetic nanocrystals, mimicking the structure and compositions of low-density lipoproteins, represented on the inside cover image by blackberry-like particles. As described on page 222 by J. H. Lee, Y. S. Nam, and co-workers, the low-density lipoprotein-mimetic nanoparticles functionalized with cancer-targeting folates (shown as cone-shaped molecules tethered to the surface of the particles) bind to the surface of tumor cells expressing folate receptors (Y-shaped pink molecules).