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Nanoplatforms for Cancer Theranostics / Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging · Journal article
Materials Today Bio · September 9, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This is a preclinical proof-of-concept study demonstrating that GV21, a novel VEGFR2-targeted nanobubble, can extravasate into tumor tissue and generate ultrasound molecular imaging signals from both vascular and extravascular VEGFR2-expressing cells. The work is mechanistic and developmental; it shows potential for imaging but provides no evidence of clinical utility, diagnostic accuracy, or impact on patient management.
Journal article. Preclinical tumor models (specific animal species and tumor types not detailed in abstract). Intervention: VEGFR2-targeted gas vesicles (GV21) for ultrasound molecular imaging in tumor models. Compared with: BR55 (VEGFR2-targeted microbubbles) as structural comparator; apatinib as therapeutic comparator.
GV21 particle size is 211.74 ± 1.05 nm, enabling extravasation across tumor blood vessels unlike the microscale BR55 comparator GV21 generates stronger and more persistent USMI signals in VEGFR2-expressing tumors than BR55 Tumor-cell USMI signals can be isolated by subtracting BR55 signals from total GV21 signals to evaluate therapeutic response to apatinib
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
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First-in-concept preclinical development of a novel imaging agent with no clinical efficacy or safety data, surrogate endpoint (imaging signal), and no controlled comparison of therapeutic outcomes.
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Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) plays a crucial role in tumor growth through accelerating tumor angiogenesis. Recently, increasing evidence indicates that VEGFR2 is also overexpressed on tumor cells in multiple cancers, contributing to tumor progression and survival. BR55, a kind of VEGFR2-targeted microbubbles, has been developed and exhibited a promising potential for ultrasound molecular imaging (USMI) of early-stage tumors. However, it can only detect the VEGFR2 expressed on the tumor vascular endothelial cells but not on the tumor cells because it is strictly confined to the vasculature. Here, we developed VEGFR2-targeted gas vesicles (GV21) for USMI to enable detection of VEGFR2 in both vascular and extravascular interstitial regions. Unlike microscale BR55, GV21 has only 211.74 ± 1.05 nm particle size and can directly extravasate from tumor blood vessels to bind onto tumor cells, generating stronger and more persistent USMI signals in VEGFR2-expressing tumors. More importantly, the tumor-cell USMI signals can be specifically separated though subtracting the USMI signals of tumor blood vessels obtained from BR55-mimic microbubbles from the total USMI signals of tumor tissue from GV21 nanobubbles, allowing earlier and more comprehensive evaluation of therapeutic responses with the VEGFR2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor apatinib. These findings suggest that GV21 enables sensitive USMI of VEGFR2 expression and provides a promising approach for noninvasive evaluation of tumor molecular characteristics.
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