Delivery of substances and their target-specific topical activation

RHAMM-target peptides inhibit invasion of breast cancer cells

RHAMM is hyaluronan- receptor with multiple functions in the cell, RHAMM is involved in proliferation, motility, migration, invasion, mitotic spindle formation in tumour cells. Therefore, RHAMM could be a relevant target for molecular targeted therapies against tumors.The role of RHAMM-target peptides in inhibition invasion for preventing breast cancer has not yet been investigated. Base on this, we analyzed the RHAMM-target peptides for their therapeutic activity against breast cancer cells. In the present study, we examined the effect of RHAMM-target peptides on the invasion of breast cancer cells (MDAMB- 231), using confocal microscopy. We shown that RHAMM-target peptides decreased formation of invadopodia of breast cancer cells. The treatment of breast cancer cells by RHAMM -target peptides inhibited the invasion up to 99 %. Additionally, RHAMM-target peptides induced the morphological changes of of breast cancer cells. Therefore, based on these results, we can conclude that RHAMM-target peptides may be potential anti-cancer agents.

A lysosome-targeted drug delivery system based on sorbitol backbone towards efficient cancer therapy

A straightforward synthetic approach was adopted for the construction of a lysosome-targeted drug delivery system (TDDS) using sorbitol scaffold (Sor) linked to octa-guanidine and tetrapeptide GLPG, a peptide substrate of lysosomal cysteine protease, cathepsin B. The main objective was to efficiently deliver the potential anticancer drug, doxorubicin to the target sites, thereby minimizing dose-limiting toxicity. Three TDDS vectors were synthesized viz., DDS1: Sor-GLPG-Fl, DDS2: Sor-Fl (control) and DDS3: Sor-GLPGC-SMCC-Dox. Dox release from DDS3 in the presence of cathepsin B was studied by kinetics measurement based on the fluorescent property of Dox. The cytotoxicity of DDS1 was assessed and found to be non-toxic. Cellular internalization and colocalization studies of all the 3 systems were carried out by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy utilizing cathepsin B-expressing HeLa cells. DDS1 and DDS3 revealed significant localization within the lysosomes, in contrast to DDS2 (control). The doxorubicin-conjugated carrier, DDS3, demonstrated significant cytotoxic effect when compared to free Dox by MTT assay and also by flow cytometric analysis. The targeted approach with DDS3 is expected to be promising, because it is indicated to be advantageous over free Dox, which possesses dose-limiting toxicity, posing risk of injury to normal tissues.

A peptide & peptide nucleic acid synthesis technology for transporter molecules and theranostics--the SPPS

Advances in imaging diagnostics using magnetic resonance tomography (MRT), positron emission tomography (PET) and fluorescence imaging including near infrared (NIR) imaging methods are facilitated by constant improvement of the concepts of peptide synthesis. Feasible patient-specific theranostic platforms in the personalized medicine are particularly dependent on efficient and clinically applicable peptide constructs. The role of peptides in the interrelations between the structure and function of proteins is widely investigated, especially by using computer-assisted methods. Nowadays the solid phase synthesis (SPPS) chemistry emerges as a key technology and is considered as a promising methodology to design peptides for the investigation of molecular pharmacological processes at the transcriptional level. SPPS syntheses could be carried out in core facilities producing peptides for large-scale scientific implementations as presented here.

BioShuttle mobility in living cells studied with high-resolution FCS & CLSM methodologies

With the increase in molecular diagnostics and patient-specific therapeutic approaches, the delivery and targeting of imaging molecules and pharmacologically active agents gain increasing importance. The ideal delivery system does not exist yet. The realization of two features is indispensable: first, a locally high concentration of target-specific diagnostic and therapeutic molecules; second, the broad development of effective and safe carrier systems. Here we characterize the transport properties of the peptide-based BioShuttle transporter using FFM and CLSM methods. The modular design of BioShuttle-based formulations results in a multi-faceted field of applications, also as a theranostic tool.

Improved synthesis strategy for peptide nucleic acids (PNA) appropriate for cell-specific fluorescence imaging

Progress in genomics and proteomics attended to the door for better understanding the recent rapid expanding complex research field of metabolomics. This trend in biomedical research increasingly focuses to the development of patient-specific therapeutic approaches with higher efficiency and sustainability. Simultaneously undesired adverse reactions are avoided. In parallel, the development of molecules for molecular imaging is required not only for the imaging of morphological structures but also for the imaging of metabolic processes like the aberrant expression of the cysteine protease cathepsin B (CtsB) gene and the activity of the resulting product associated with metastasis and invasiveness of malign tumors. Finally the objective is to merge imaging and therapy at the same level. The design of molecules which fulfil these responsibilities is pivotal and requires proper chemical methodologies. In this context our modified solid phase peptide chemistry using temperature shifts during synthesis is considered as an appropriate technology. We generated highly variable conjugates which consist of molecules useful as diagnostically and therapeutically active molecules. As an example the modular PNA products with the complementary sequence to the CtsB mRNA and additionally with a cathepsin B cleavage site had been prepared as functional modules for distinction of cell lines with different CtsB gene expression. After ligation to the modular peptide-based BioShuttle carrier, which was utilized to facilitate the delivery of the functional modules into the cells' cytoplasm, the modules were scrutinized.

Classes and prediction of cell-penetrating peptides

The classical view on how peptides enter cells has been changed due to the development in the research field of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). During the last 15 years, more than 100 peptide sequences have been published to enter cells and also to bring different biological cargoes with them. Here, we present an overview of CPPs, mainly trying to analyze their common properties yielding the prediction of their cell-penetrating properties. Furthermore, examples of recent research, ideas on classification and uptake mechanisms, as well as a summary of the therapeutic potential of CPPs are presented.