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Sis MJ, Liu D, Allen I, Webber MJ. Iterative Design Reveals Molecular Domain Relationships in Supramolecular Peptide-Drug Conjugates. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 38870408 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Supramolecular peptide-drug conjugates (sPDCs) are prepared by covalent attachment of a drug moiety to a peptide motif programmed for one-dimensional self-assembly, with subsequent physical entanglement of these fibrillar structures enabling formation of nanofibrous hydrogels. This class of prodrug materials presents an attractive platform for mass-efficient and site-specific delivery of therapeutic agents using a discrete, single-component molecular design. However, a continued challenge in sPDC development is elucidating relationships between supramolecular interactions in their drug and peptide domains and the resultant impacts of these domains on assembly outcomes and material properties. Inclusion of a saturated alkyl segment alongside the prodrug in the hydrophobic domain of sPDCs could relieve some of the necessity for ordered, prodrug-produg interactions. Accordingly, nine sPDCs are prepared here to iterate the design variables of amino acid sequence and hydrophobic prodrug-alkyl block design. All molecules spontaneously formed hydrogels under physiological conditions, indicating a less hindered thermodynamic path to self-assembly relative to previous prodrug-only designs. However, material studies on the supramolecular arrangement, formation, and mechanical properties of the resultant sPDC hydrogels as well as their drug release profiles showed complex relationships between the hydrophobic and peptide domains in the formation and function of the resulting assemblies. Together, these results indicate that sPDC material properties are intrinsically linked to holistic molecular design with coupled contributions from their prodrug and peptide domains in directing properties of the emergent materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Sis
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Dongping Liu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Isabella Allen
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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Wang H, Mills J, Sun B, Cui H. Therapeutic Supramolecular Polymers: Designs and Applications. Prog Polym Sci 2024; 148:101769. [PMID: 38188703 PMCID: PMC10769153 DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The self-assembly of low-molecular-weight building motifs into supramolecular polymers has unlocked a new realm of materials with distinct properties and tremendous potential for advancing medical practices. Leveraging the reversible and dynamic nature of non-covalent interactions, these supramolecular polymers exhibit inherent responsiveness to their microenvironment, physiological cues, and biomolecular signals, making them uniquely suited for diverse biomedical applications. In this review, we intend to explore the principles of design, synthesis methodologies, and strategic developments that underlie the creation of supramolecular polymers as carriers for therapeutics, contributing to the treatment and prevention of a spectrum of human diseases. We delve into the principles underlying monomer design, emphasizing the pivotal role of non-covalent interactions, directionality, and reversibility. Moreover, we explore the intricate balance between thermodynamics and kinetics in supramolecular polymerization, illuminating strategies for achieving controlled sizes and distributions. Categorically, we examine their exciting biomedical applications: individual polymers as discrete carriers for therapeutics, delving into their interactions with cells, and in vivo dynamics; and supramolecular polymeric hydrogels as injectable depots, with a focus on their roles in cancer immunotherapy, sustained drug release, and regenerative medicine. As the field continues to burgeon, harnessing the unique attributes of therapeutic supramolecular polymers holds the promise of transformative impacts across the biomedical landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBiotechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jason Mills
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBiotechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Boran Sun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBiotechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Honggang Cui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBiotechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, The Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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