Table 1 Summary of the application of CREKA-based nanoparticles

Ultrasmall manganese ferrite nanoparticles conjugated with CREKA

Acidity, H₂O₂ triggered release of Mn²⁺, 4.1 nm–12.4 mV

N.A

Detecting ultrasmall metastasis

[58]

CREKA-targeted gadolinium-based MRI contrast agent

Molecular weight: 2913 Da

N.A

Imaging of micrometastasis

[37]

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) conjugated with CREKA and loading Fe₃O₄, IR 780 and ketotifen fumarate

0.457 ± 0.209 mV, 268.87 ± 14 nm,

Fe loading efficiency = 5.74%

Imaging fibrin-rich thrombi and preventing thrombus formation

[64]

Gelatin modified with CREKA and loading MR imaging agent Fe₃O₄ (TNPs) and then engulfed by macrophages (MTNPs)

− 6.61 ± 0.76 mV, 197.53 ± 0.83 nm

Fe₃O₄ loading rate = 57.81 ± 2.4%

Targeting thrombi imaging by magnet-guided and LIFU responsiveness

[65]

Prussian blue and perfluorinated pentane in the core, CREKA was attached to PLGA as the shell

287.58 ± 6.6 nm, 1 ± 1.35 mV

PB loading efficiency = 35.2%

Achieving antithrombotic therapy by regulating the thrombosis microenvironment

[73]

CREKA-modified mesenchymal stem cells

N.A

The density of CREKA on MSCs was about 9.1*10¹¹ molecules per cell

For the repair of myocardial injury

[74]

CREKA-modified polymer nanoparticles and loaded with α-mangostin

− 27.8 ± 0.95 mV, 106.93 ± 3.69 nm

The drug loading of α-mangostin was 49.62%

Lowering the tumor stromal barrier and enhancing the delivery of chemotherapy drugs

[82]

PEGylated liposomes modified with CREKA and loaded doxorubicin

− 28.9 mV, 160 nm

DOX entrapment efficiency was nearly 99%, the modified CREKA was approximately 277.9 ± 13.3 μg/μmol lipids

Enhancing antitumor and anti-metastasis therapy

[83]

IR 780 conjugated with Gd-DOTA and then coassembly with DSPE-PEG-CREKA and loading ticagrelor

− 34.74 ± 5.87 mV, 127.8 ± 12.3 nm

Tic loading rate = 16.7%, entrapment efficiency = 80%

Targeting NIR fluorescence/MRI dual-modal imaging-guided PTT/chemotherapy of tumor

[84]

Iron oxide (Fe-Ms) or manganese oxide (Mn-Ms) core modified with CREKA peptide

20–30 nm r₁ = 0.170 mM⁻¹S⁻¹, r₂ = 456.5 mM⁻¹S⁻¹

N.A

Non-invasive MR imaging of thrombosis during the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

[88]

CREKA-modified small extracellular vesicles

90.06 nm

particle-to-protein ratio of CREKA-sEVs was 5 × 10⁹ particles/μg

Targeting therapy for bone repair

[93]

CREKA coupled liposomes and loading celastrol

110 nm, PDI < 0.20

CEL entrapment efficiency > 90%, 57 ± 1.3 μg of CREKA per mg of lipids

Targeted delivery of celastrol to renal interstitial myofibroblasts

[40]