OBJECTIVETo screen the peptides that bind specifically to the hepatoma cells using phage display random peptides library.

METHODSThree rounds of panning were conducted in vitro targeting HepG2 cell lines. In nude mice bearing HepG2 tumor, one round of panning was conducted, and 30 phage clones were randomly selected for sequence analysis to identify the consensus sequence. Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine the specificity of the phages to the hepatoma cells.

RESULTSAfter three rounds of panning in vitro and one round of panning in vivo, the phages binding to HepG2 cells were enriched. Sequence analysis of the randomly selected clones identified the peptide sequence VRKRSECLGAHD as the most frequent sequence. Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry confirmed the specificity of the phage binding to the hepatoma cells.

CONCLUSIONSSpecific peptides against hepatoma cells can be obtained from a phage- display peptide library, which provides an experimental basis for developing therapeutic agents targeting hepatoma cells.