Design and development of novel nanosensors for real time monitoring of tumor proteolytic activity using MRI

Cancer progression and growth are intimately correlated with proteolytic activity of the tumor microenvironment. The latter is mediated by increased matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression and activity found in most types of cancers. Therefore, monitoring and/or controlling MMPs dysregulated proteolytic activity in vivo is an emerging need in the field of cancer diagnosis and therapy. The project aims to develop a transformative robust imaging platform for monitoring MMPs activity allowing earlier and better diagnostics of tumor onset and progression.