Phage display specific p16INK4a binding peptide for ex vivo cancer cells imaging

This work demonstrates the application of phage display technology for molecular diagnosis utility. We propose a novel phage-displayed peptide which specifically bind to p16INK4a, a cervical cancer biomarker. Whole phage particles were developed as a molecular tracer for ex vivo cells imaging technique. Increase in specific phages binding to p16INK4a overexpressed cells is improved when the cells were initially permeabilized in order to make phage penetrable pores on the target cell membranes. We also proved that fluorescence signal could be obviously enhanced due to tremendous interaction sites for fluorescence dye labeling available on capsid proteins around phage particles. Evaluation of p16INK4a binding phages to discriminate between p16INK4a overexpressed cervical cancer cells versus normal fibroblast cells demonstrated higher fluorescence intensity of 2.5 fold over native phages.