Abstract: The present invention provides a selective CXCR4 binding peptide conjugate (“PC”), and a method for using and producing the same. In particular, the selective CXCR4 binding peptide conjugate of the invention comprises a peptide portion that selectively binds to CXCR4 and a medically useful compound, such as an imaging agent, a diagnostic agent, or a therapeutically or pharmaceutically active compound. In one particular embodiment, the selective CXCR4 binding peptide conjugate (“PC”) is of the formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein a, b, AA1, AA2, Ar1, X1, and AA3 are those defined herein. The peptide conjugate of the invention can be used in a variety of medical applications including, but not limited to, a targeted drug delivery or imaging a patient or diagnosing a patient for a disease or a clinical condition associated with overexpression and/or upregulation of CXCR4, such as cancers, HIV infection, and immune disorders.

Abstract: The present invention provides a selective CXCR4 binding peptide conjugate (“PC”), and a method for using and producing the same. In particular, the selective CXCR4 binding peptide conjugate of the invention comprises a peptide portion that selectively binds to CXCR4 and a medically useful compound, such as an imaging agent, a diagnostic agent, or a therapeutically or pharmaceutically active compound. In one particular embodiment, the selective CXCR4 binding peptide conjugate (“PC”) is of the formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein a, b, AA1, AA2, Ar1, X1, and AA3 are those defined herein. The peptide conjugate of the invention can be used in a variety of medical applications including, but not limited to, a targeted drug delivery or imaging a patient or diagnosing a patient for a disease or a clinical condition associated with overexpression and/or upregulation of CXCR4, such as cancers, HIV infection, and immune disorders.