E-Mail IMAGE: Self-assembled peptide nanoparticles for enhanced dark-field and hyperspectral imaging. (A) Illustration of the fabrication of peptide nanoparticles based on covalent assembly of dipeptide and genipin. (B) Enhanced dark-field and hyperspectral... view more Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kazan Federal University The work was conducted under the auspices of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and organizations-participants of the BRICS framework program in science, technology and innovation; the grant title is "Nanosized peptide-based biomaterials for photodynamic diagnostics of tumors". Project lead, Chief Research Associate of KFU's Bionanotechnology Lab Rawil Fakhrullin commented on the results, "The development of materials for theranostics (simultaneous early diagnosis and therapy of diseases) is one of the most urgent tasks in modern chemistry and biomedicine. A feature of such materials is the combination of at least two functions: sensory and therapeutic. Various nanoparticles capable of targeted drug delivery into cells and tissues are used as carrier particles in theranostic formulations. The most promising are organic nanoparticles. Peptide nanomaterials are now actively used as drug delivery vehicles. The interest in peptide complexes is stimulated by their biological compatibility and safety, as well as the modification of their properties using various covalently attached ligands."