Abstract
Biomarkers play a critical role in modern medicine, guiding disease detection, monitoring, and treatment decisions. Protein biomarkers offer dynamic insights into physiological and pathological processes, making them invaluable tools for diagnostic imaging. This dissertation explores the development of a novel biomarker-targeting platform by integrating LanModulin (LanM), a high-affinity lanthanide-binding protein, with a HER2-specific Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin). By leveraging the molecular specificity of HER2-targeting DARPins and the unique lanthanide-binding properties of LanM, this work aims to enhance the stability and precision of imaging agents for HER2+ breast cancer. Through the design, expression, and characterization of this fusion protein, this research establishes a framework for the use of LanM as a lanthanide carrier in bioimaging, highlighting its potential to advance biomedical applications that rely on lanthanide-based diagnostics and imaging techniques.