Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) is closely related to the growth of cancers and is suggested as a suitable target for anti-cancer therapy.  Recently, a research group used the “one-bead-one-compound” (OBOC) approach on a microarray device to scren out a novel affinity peptide LN (YEVGHRC). It was found that LN could specifically recognize and bind to APN; Moreover, LN-functionalized liposomes (LN-LS) could achieve efficient nano-encapsulated drug delivery under APN-overexpressing tumor conditions in vitro and in vivo,   providing a new strategy for APN-positive tumor diagnosis and therapy. Biomater Sci. 2017 Feb 28;5(3):417-421.

HER2 is a biomarker of human breast cancer has become an important validated therapeutic target in breast cancer. Recently, a research published in Theranostics using OBOC to screen  a library of novel HER2 targeting peptides. These targeting peptides were conjugated to DSPE-PEG-Maleimide (Nanosoft Polymers) to develop HER2 targeted liposomes for doxorubicin delivery to improve the cancer therapy and diagnosis.  Geng L. et al. HER2 Targeting Peptides Screening and Applications in Tumor Imaging and Drug Delivery. Theranostics. 2016: 6(8): 1261-1273.