Fig. 1.

Schematic representation of RGD-avidin:TRAIL complexes. Soluble recombinant human TRAIL was modified with biotin groups via two different reagents that either react at lysine or methionine residues. Biotinylated TRAIL was complexed to an avidin-based targeting device equipped with approximately 5 RGD-peptide ligands per avidin molecule. A hydrophilic PEG-linker was used to append the RGD-peptides to avidin. The assembled complexes can bind to tumor blood vessels via RGD//α_vβ₃-integrin interactions, while apoptosis can be induced via TRAIL/DR ligation