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Das Gupta B, Halder A, Vijayakanth T, Ghosh N, Konar R, Mukherjee O, Gazit E, Mondal S. A broad-spectrum antibacterial hydrogel based on the synergistic action of Fmoc-phenylalanine and Fmoc-lysine in a co-assembled state. J Mater Chem B 2024. [PMID: 39102005 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00948g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Multicomponent biomolecular self-assembly is fundamental for accomplishing complex functionalities of biosystems. Self-assembling peptides, amino acids, and their conjugates serve as a versatile platform for developing biomaterials. However, the co-assembly of multiple building blocks showing synergistic interplay between individual components and producing biomaterials with emergent functional attributes is much less explored. In this study, we have formulated minimalistic co-assembled hydrogels composed of Fmoc-phenylalanine and Fmoc-lysine. The co-assembled systems display broad-spectrum antimicrobial potency, a feature absent in individual building blocks. A comprehensive biophysical analysis demonstrates the physicochemical features of the hydrogels eliciting the antibacterial response. MD simulation further reveals a unique fibrillar architecture with Fmoc-phenylalanine forming the fibril core surrounded by positively charged Fmoc-lysine surface residues, thereby enhancing the interaction with negatively charged bacterial membranes, causing membrane disruption and cell death. Thus, this study provides molecular-level insight into the emergent properties of a multicomponent system, affording an excellent paradigm for developing novel biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodhisattwa Das Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur 713209, India.
| | - Arpita Halder
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur 713209, India.
| | - Thangavel Vijayakanth
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Nandita Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur 713209, India.
| | - Ranik Konar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur 713209, India.
| | - Oindrilla Mukherjee
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur 713209, India.
| | - Ehud Gazit
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Sudipta Mondal
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur 713209, India.
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2
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Singh A, Chakraborty J, Pal S, Das D. Site-selective peptide bond hydrolysis and ligation in water by short peptide-based assemblies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321396121. [PMID: 39042686 PMCID: PMC11295027 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321396121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The evolution of complex chemical inventory from Darwin's nutrient-rich warm pond necessitated rudimentary yet efficient catalytic folds. Short peptides and their self-organized microstructures, ranging from spherical colloids to amyloidogenic aggregates might have played a crucial role in the emergence of contemporary catalytic entities. However, the question of how short peptide fragments had functions akin to contemporary complex enzymes to catalyze cleavage and formation of highly stable peptide bonds that constitute the backbone of all proteins remains an unresolved yet fundamentally important question in terms of the origins of enzymes. We report short-peptide-based spherical assemblies that demonstrated residue-specific cleavage and formation of peptide bonds of diverse peptide-based substrates under aqueous environment. Despite the short sequence length, the assemblies utilized the synergistic collaboration of four residues which included the catalytic triad of extant serine proteases with a nonproteinogenic amino acid (quinone moiety), to facilitate proteolysis, ligation, and a three-step (hydrolysis-ligation-hydrolysis) cascade. Such short-peptide-based catalytic assemblies argue for their candidacy as the earliest protein folds and open up avenues for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Singh
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur741246, India
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur741246, India
| | - Janardan Chakraborty
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur741246, India
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur741246, India
| | - Sumit Pal
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur741246, India
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur741246, India
| | - Dibyendu Das
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur741246, India
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur741246, India
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3
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Zhang Q, Tan W, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Wei WS, Fraden S, Xu B. Unnatural Peptide Assemblies Rapidly Deplete Cholesterol and Potently Inhibit Cancer Cells. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:12901-12906. [PMID: 38701349 PMCID: PMC11223060 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Cholesterol-rich membranes play a pivotal role in cancer initiation and progression, necessitating innovative approaches to target these membranes for cancer inhibition. Here we report the first case of unnatural peptide (1) assemblies capable of depleting cholesterol and inhibiting cancer cells. Peptide 1 self-assembles into micelles and is rapidly taken up by cancer cells, especially when combined with an acute cholesterol-depleting agent (MβCD). Click chemistry has confirmed that 1 depletes cell membrane cholesterol. It localizes in membrane-rich organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes. Furthermore, 1 potently inhibits malignant cancer cells, working synergistically with cholesterol-lowering agents. Control experiments have confirmed that C-terminal capping and unnatural amino acid residues (i.e., BiP) are essential for both cholesterol depletion and potent cancer cell inhibition. This work highlights unnatural peptide assemblies as a promising platform for targeting the cell membrane in controlling cell fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Weiyi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Zhiyu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Wei-Shao Wei
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Seth Fraden
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
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4
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Mo X, Zhang Z, Song J, Wang Y, Yu Z. Self-assembly of peptides in living cells for disease theranostics. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:4289-4306. [PMID: 38595070 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00365a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The past few decades have witnessed substantial progress in biomedical materials for addressing health concerns and improving disease therapeutic and diagnostic efficacy. Conventional biomedical materials are typically created through an ex vivo approach and are usually utilized under physiological environments via transfer from preparative media. This transfer potentially gives rise to challenges for the efficient preservation of the bioactivity and implementation of theranostic goals on site. To overcome these issues, the in situ synthesis of biomedical materials on site has attracted great attention in the past few years. Peptides, which exhibit remarkable biocompability and reliable noncovalent interactions, can be tailored via tunable assembly to precisely create biomedical materials. In this review, we summarize the progress in the self-assembly of peptides in living cells for disease diagnosis and therapy. After a brief introduction to the basic design principles of peptide assembly systems in living cells, the applications of peptide assemblies for bioimaging and disease treatment are highlighted. The challenges in the field of peptide self-assembly in living cells and the prospects for novel peptide assembly systems towards next-generation biomaterials are also discussed, which will hopefully help elucidate the great potential of peptide assembly in living cells for future healthcare applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Mo
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Zeyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Jinyan Song
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Yushi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Zhilin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China.
- Haihe Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, 21 West 15th Avenue, Tianjin 300308, China
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5
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MacPherson DS, Dave D, Kassem S, Doganata S, Zeglis BM, Ulijn RV. Tuning Supramolecular Chirality in Iodinated Amphiphilic Peptides Through Tripeptide Linker Editing. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2277-2285. [PMID: 38445833 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Protease-cleavable supramolecular oligopeptide nanofilaments are promising materials for targeted therapeutics and diagnostics. In these systems, single amino acid substitutions can have profound effects on the supramolecular structure and consequent proteolytic degradation, which are critical parameters for their intended applications. Herein, we describe changes to the self-assembly and proteolytic cleavage of iodine containing sequences for future translation into matrix metalloprotease (MMP-9)-activated supramolecular radio-imaging probes. We use a systematic single amino acid exchange in the tripeptide linker region of these peptide amphiphiles to provide insights into the role of each residue in the supramolecular assemblies. These modifications resulted in dramatic changes in the nature of the assembled structures formed, including an unexpected chiral inversion. By using circular dichroism, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations, we found that the GD loop, a common motif in β-turn elements, induced a reversal of the chiral orientation of the assembled nanofibers. In addition to the impact on peptide packing and chirality, MMP-9-catalyzed hydrolysis was evaluated for the four peptides, with the β-sheet content found to be a stronger determinant of enzymatic hydrolysis than supramolecular chirality. These observations provide fundamental insights into the sequence design in protease cleavable amphiphilic peptides with the potential for radio-labeling and selective biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas S MacPherson
- Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10028, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Dhwanit Dave
- Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10028, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Salma Kassem
- Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Selma Doganata
- Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Brian M Zeglis
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10028, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Rein V Ulijn
- Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10028, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
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6
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Xie Z, Cao B, Zhao J, Liu M, Lao Y, Luo H, Zhong Z, Xiong X, Wei W, Zou T. Ion Pairing Enables Targeted Prodrug Activation via Red Light Photocatalysis: A Proof-of-Concept Study with Anticancer Gold Complexes. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:8547-8556. [PMID: 38498689 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Photocatalysis has found increasing applications in biological systems, for example, in localized prodrug activation; however, high-energy light is usually required without giving sufficient efficiency and target selectivity. In this work, we report that ion pairing between photocatalysts and prodrugs can significantly improve the photoactivation efficiency and enable tumor-targeted activation by red light. This is exemplified by a gold-based prodrug (1d) functionalized with a morpholine moiety. Such a modification causes 1d to hydrolyze in aqueous solution, forming a cationic species that tightly interacts with anionic photosensitizers including Eosin Y (EY) and Rose Bengal (RB), along with a significant bathochromic shift of absorption tailing to the far-red region. As a result, a high photoactivation efficiency of 1d by EY or RB under low-energy light was found, leading to an effective release of active gold species in living cells, as monitored by a gold-specific biosensor (GolS-mCherry). Importantly, the morpholine moiety, with pKa ∼6.9, in 1d brings in a highly pH-sensitive and preferential ionic interaction under a slightly acidic condition over the normal physiological pH, enabling tumor-targeted prodrug activation by red light irradiation in vitro and in vivo. Since a similar absorption change was found in other morpholine/amine-containing clinic drugs, photocages, and precursors of reactive labeling intermediates, it is believed that the ion-pairing strategy could be extended for targeted activation of different prodrugs and for mapping of an acidic microenvironment by low-energy light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bei Cao
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, and General Education Division, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- School of Education Sciences, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511453, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Moyi Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuhan Lao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hejiang Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi Zhong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaolin Xiong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Taotao Zou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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7
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Pramod T, Khazeber R, Athiyarath V, Sureshan KM. Topochemistry for Difficult Peptide-Polymer Synthesis: Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Synthesis of an Isoleucine-Based Polymer, a Hydrophobic Coating Material. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:7257-7265. [PMID: 38253536 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Polymers of hydrophobic amino acids are predicted to be potential coating materials for the creation of hydrophobic surfaces. The oligopeptides of hydrophobic amino acids are called "difficult peptides"; as the name suggests, it is difficult to synthesize them by conventional methods. We circumvented this synthetic challenge by adopting topochemical azide-alkyne cycloaddition (TAAC) polymerization of a hydrophobic dipeptide monomer. We designed an Ile-based dipeptide, decorated with azide and alkyne, which arrange in the crystal in a head-to-tail fashion with the azide and alkyne of the adjacent molecules in a ready-to-react orientation. The monomer, on mild heating of its crystals, undergoes regiospecific TAAC polymerization to yield a 1,4-disubstituted-triazole-linked polymer in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal fashion. The solid obtained after evaporation of the monomer solution also maintained crystallinity and underwent regiospecific topochemical polymerization as in the case of crystals. This topochemical polymerization could be studied using different techniques such as FTIR, NMR, DSC, GPC, MALDI, PXRD, and SCXRD. Since the polymer is insoluble in common solvents and hence difficult to coat surfaces, the monomer was first sprayed and evaporated on various surfaces and polymerized on the surface. Such polymer-coated surfaces exhibited water contact angles of up to 134°, showing that this Ile-derived polymer is very hydrophobic and can potentially be used as a coating material for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thejus Pramod
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala, Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India
| | - Ravichandran Khazeber
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala, Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India
| | - Vignesh Athiyarath
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala, Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India
| | - Kana M Sureshan
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala, Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India
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8
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Sbordone F, Micallef A, Frisch H. pH-Controlled Reversible Folding of Copolymers via Formation of β-sheet Secondary Structures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319839. [PMID: 38205669 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Protein functions are enabled by their perfectly arranged 3D structure, which is the result of a hierarchical intramolecular folding process. Sequence-defined polypeptide chains form locally ordered secondary structures (i.e., α-helix and β-sheet) through hydrogen bonding between the backbone amides, shaping the overall tertiary structure. To generate similarly complex macromolecular architectures based on synthetic materials, a plethora of strategies have been developed to induce and control the folding of synthetic polymers. However, the degree of complexity of the structure-driving ensemble of interactions demonstrated by natural polymers is unreached, as synthesizing long sequence-defined polymers with functional backbones remains a challenge. Herein, we report the synthesis of hybrid peptide-N,N-Dimethylacrylamide copolymers via radical Ring-Opening Polymerization (rROP) of peptide containing macrocycles. The resulting synthetic polymers contain sequence-defined regions of β-sheet encoding amino acid sequences. Exploiting the pH responsiveness of the embedded sequences, protonation or deprotonation in water induces self-assembly of the peptide strands at an intramacromolecular level, driving polymer chain folding via formation of β-sheet secondary structures. We demonstrate that the folding behavior is sequence dependent and reversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Sbordone
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Aaron Micallef
- Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Hendrik Frisch
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
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9
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Ahad A, Aftab F, Michel A, Lewis JS, Contel M. Development of immunoliposomes containing cytotoxic gold payloads against HER2-positive breast cancers. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:139-150. [PMID: 38283233 PMCID: PMC10809422 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00334e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is found in 20-30% of breast cancer tumors (HER2-positive breast cancers) and is associated with more aggressive onset of disease, higher recurrence rate and increased mortality. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) like trastuzumab and pertuzumab in combination with chemotherapeutics, and trastuzumab-based antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are used in the clinic to treat these cancers. An alternative targeted strategy (not yet in clinical use) is the encapsulation of chemotherapeutic drugs in immunoliposomes. Such systems may not only facilitate targeted delivery to the tumor and improve intracellular penetration, but also override some of the resistance developed by tumors in response to cytotoxic loads. As a supplement to classical chemotherapeutics (based on organic compounds and conventional platinum-based derivatives), gold compounds are emerging as potential anticancer agents due to their high cytotoxicity and capacity for immunogenic cell death. Here, we describe the development of immunoliposomes functionalized with trastuzumab and pertuzumab; containing simple gold(i) neutral compounds ([AuCl(PR3)] (PR3 = PPh3 (1), PEt3 (2))) generated by the thin-film method to afford Lipo-1-Lipo-2. Trastuzumab and pertuzumab were engrafted onto these liposomes to generate gold-based immunoliposomes (Immunolipo-Tras-1, Immunolipo-Tras-2, Immunolipo-Per-1, Immunolipo-Per-2). We have characterized all liposomal formulations and demonstrated that the immunoliposomes (190 nm) are stable, have high binding affinity for HER2, and display selective cytotoxicity towards HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines. Trastuzumab-based immunoliposomes of a smaller size (100 nm) - encapsulating [AuCl(PEt3)] (2) - have been generated by an extrusion homogenization method. These optimized immunoliposomes (Opt-Immunolipo-Tras-2) have a trastuzumab engraftment efficiency, encapsulation efficiency for 2, and affinity for HER-2 similar to the immunoliposomes obtained by sonication (Immunolipo-Tras-2). While the amount of Au encapsulated is slightly lower, they display almost identical cytotoxicity and selectivity profiles. Moreover, the fluorescently-labeled phosphane drug [AuCl(PPh2-BODIPY)] (3) was encapsulated in both larger (Immunolipo-Tras-3) and smaller (Opt-Immunolipo-Tras-3) immunoliposomes and used to visualize the intracellular localization of the payload. Fluorescent imaging studies found that Opt-Immunolipo-Tras-3 accumulates in the cells more than 3 and that the unencapsulated payload accumulates primarily in lysosomes, while targeted liposomal 3 localizes in mitochondria and ER, hinting at different possibilities for modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afruja Ahad
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York Brooklyn NY USA
- Brooklyn College Cancer Center, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York Brooklyn NY USA
- Biology PhD Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York New York NY USA
- Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York NY USA
| | - Fatima Aftab
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York Brooklyn NY USA
- Brooklyn College Cancer Center, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York Brooklyn NY USA
| | - Alexa Michel
- Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York NY USA
| | - Jason S Lewis
- Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York NY USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York NY USA
- Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Probes Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York NY USA
| | - Maria Contel
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York Brooklyn NY USA
- Brooklyn College Cancer Center, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York Brooklyn NY USA
- Biology PhD Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York New York NY USA
- Chemistry PhD Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York New York NY USA
- Biochemistry PhD Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York New York NY USA
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10
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Ahad A, K. Saeed H, del Solar V, López-Hernández JE, Michel A, Mathew J, Lewis JS, Contel M. Shifting the Antibody-Drug Conjugate Paradigm: A Trastuzumab-Gold-Based Conjugate Demonstrates High Efficacy against Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer Mouse Model. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:1972-1986. [PMID: 38093840 PMCID: PMC10714425 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00270] [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] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the selectivity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with the efficacy of chemotherapeutics to target cancers without toxicity to normal tissue. Clinically, most chemotherapeutic ADCs are based on complex organic molecules, while the conjugation of metallodrugs to mAbs has been overlooked, despite the resurgent interest in metal-based drugs as cancer chemotherapeutics. In 2019, we described the first gold ADCs containing gold-triphenylphosphane fragments as a proof of concept. The ADCs (based on the antibody trastuzumab) were selective and highly active against HER2-positive breast cancer cells. In this study, we developed site-specific ADCs (Thio-1b and Thio-2b) using the cysteine-engineered trastuzumab derivative THIOMAB antibody technology with gold(I)-containing phosphanes and a maleimide-based linker amenable to bioconjugation (1b and 2b). In addition, we developed lysine-directed ADCs with gold payloads based on phosphanes and N-heterocyclic carbenes featuring an activated ester moiety (2c and 5c) with trastuzumab (Tras-2c and Tras-5c) and another anti-HER2 antibody, pertuzumab (Per-2c and Per-5c). Both sets of ADCs demonstrated significant anticancer potency in vitro assays. Based on these results, one ADC (Tras-2c), containing the [Au(PEt3)] fragment present in FDA-approved auranofin, was selected for an in vivo antitumor efficacy study. Immunocompromised mice xenografted with the HER2-positive human cancer cell line SKBR-3 exhibited almost complete tumor reduction and low toxicity with intravenous administration of Tras-2c. With this highly selective targeting system, we demonstrated that a subnanomolar cytotoxicity profile in cells is not required for an impressive antitumor effect in a mouse xenograft model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afruja Ahad
- Department
of Chemistry, The City University of New
York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
- Brooklyn
College Cancer Center, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
- Biology
PhD Programs, The Graduate Center, The City
University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department
of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Hiwa K. Saeed
- Department
of Chemistry, The City University of New
York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
- Brooklyn
College Cancer Center, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
| | - Virginia del Solar
- Department
of Chemistry, The City University of New
York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
- Brooklyn
College Cancer Center, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
| | - Javier E. López-Hernández
- Department
of Chemistry, The City University of New
York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
- Brooklyn
College Cancer Center, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
- Biochemistry
PhD Programs, The Graduate Center, The City
University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Alexa Michel
- Department
of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Joshua Mathew
- Department
of Chemistry, The City University of New
York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
| | - Jason S. Lewis
- Department
of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Molecular
Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Radiochemistry
and Molecular Imaging Probes Core, Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Maria Contel
- Department
of Chemistry, The City University of New
York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
- Brooklyn
College Cancer Center, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York 11210, United States
- Biology
PhD Programs, The Graduate Center, The City
University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Chemistry
PhD Programs, The Graduate Center, The City
University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Biochemistry
PhD Programs, The Graduate Center, The City
University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
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11
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Son J, Parveen S, MacPherson D, Marciano Y, Huang RH, Ulijn RV. MMP-responsive nanomaterials. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:6457-6479. [PMID: 37623747 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm00840a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix and regulate essential normal cell behaviors. Inhibition of these enzymes has been a strategy for anti-cancer therapy since the 1990s, but with limited success. A new type of MMP-targeting strategy exploits the innate selective hydrolytic activity and consequent catalytic signal amplification of the proteinases, rather than inhibiting it. Using nanomaterials, the enzymatic chemical reaction can trigger the temporal and spatial activation of the anti-cancer effects, amplify the associated response, and cause mechanical damage or report on cancer cells. We analyzed nearly 60 literature studies that incorporate chemical design strategies that lead to spatial, temporal, and mechanical control of the anti-cancer effect through four modes of action: nanomaterial shrinkage, induced aggregation, formation of cytotoxic nanofibers, and activation by de-PEGylation. From the literature analysis, we derived chemical design guidelines to control and enhance MMP activation of nanomaterials of various chemical compositions (peptide, lipid, polymer, inorganic). Finally, the review includes a guide on how multiple characteristics of the nanomaterial, such as substrate modification, supramolecular structure, and electrostatic charge should be collectively considered for the targeted MMP to result in optimal kinetics of enzyme action on the nanomaterial, which allow access to amplification and additional levels of spatial, temporal, and mechanical control of the response. Although this review focuses on the design strategies of MMP-responsive nanomaterials in cancer applications, these guidelines are expected to be generalizable to systems that target MMP for treatment or detection of cancer and other diseases, as well as other enzyme-responsive nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiye Son
- Nanoscience Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA.
| | - Sadiyah Parveen
- Nanoscience Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, CUNY, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Douglas MacPherson
- Nanoscience Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA.
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, CUNY, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Yaron Marciano
- Nanoscience Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, CUNY, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Richard H Huang
- Nanoscience Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA.
| | - Rein V Ulijn
- Nanoscience Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA.
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
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12
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Bera A, Nepalia A, Upadhyay A, Kumar Saini D, Chakravarty AR. Biotin and boron-dipyrromethene-tagged platinum(IV) prodrug for cellular imaging and mito-targeted photocytotoxicity in red light. Dalton Trans 2023; 52:13339-13350. [PMID: 37671587 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt01796f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
A platinum(IV) prodrug, cis,cis,trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2(biotin)(L)] (1), derived from cisplatin, where HL is the PEGylated red-light active boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) ligand, was synthesized, characterized and its photocytotoxicity evaluated. The complex showed a near-IR absorption band at 653 nm (ε ∼9.19 × 104 M-1 cm-1) in dimethyl sulfoxide and Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (1 : 1 v/v) at pH 7.2. When excited at 630 nm, it showed an emission band at 677 nm in DMSO with a fluorescence quantum yield of 0.13. The 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran titration experiment gave a singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ) of ∼0.32. A mechanistic DNA photocleavage study revealed singlet oxygen as the reactive oxygen species (ROS). The complex with biotin and PEGylated-distyryl-BODIPY showed significantly higher cellular uptake in A549 cancer cells as compared to non-cancerous Beas-2B cells from flow cytometry, indicating selectivity towards cancer cells. A dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay showed cellular ROS generation. Confocal images revealed predominant internalization in the mitochondria. The prodrug showed remarkable photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity in cancerous A549 and multidrug-resistant MDA-MB-231 cells with a high photocytotoxicity index value (half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50): 0.61-1.54 μM in red light), while being non-toxic in the dark. The chemo-PDT activity was significantly less in non-tumorigenic lung epithelial cells (Beas-2B). The prodrug effectively triggered cellular apoptosis, which was confirmed by the Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide assay, and the alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential was substantiated by the JC-1 dye assay. The β-tubulin immunofluorescence assay confirmed that incubating the cells with a light-treated complex resulted in the rapture of the cytoskeletal structure and the formation of apoptotic bodies. The results demonstrate that the prodrug triggered apoptosis via DNA damage, a reduction in mitochondrial function and disruption of the cytoskeletal framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpan Bera
- Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - Amrita Nepalia
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - Aarti Upadhyay
- Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - Deepak Kumar Saini
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - Akhil R Chakravarty
- Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
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13
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Marciano Y, Nayeem N, Dave D, Ulijn RV, Contel M. N-Acetylation of Biodegradable Supramolecular Peptide Nanofilaments Selectively Enhances Their Proteolytic Stability for Targeted Delivery of Gold-Based Anticancer Agents. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:3379-3389. [PMID: 37192486 PMCID: PMC10699682 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Peptide materials are promising for various biomedical applications; however, a significant concern is their lack of stability and rapid degradation in vivo due to non-specific proteolysis. For materials specifically designed to respond to disease-specific proteases, it would be desirable to retain high susceptibility to target proteases while minimizing the impact of non-specific proteolysis. We describe N-terminal acetylation as a simple synthetic modification of amphiphilic self-assembling peptides that contain an MMP-9-cleavable segment and form soluble, nanoscale filaments. We found that the N-terminus capping of these peptides did not significantly impact their self-assembly behavior, critical aggregation concentration, or ability to encapsulate hydrophobic payloads. By contrast, their proteolytic stability in human plasma (especially for anionic peptide sequences) was considerably increased while susceptibility to hydrolysis by MMP-9 was retained when compared to non-acetylated peptides, especially during the first 12 h. We note, however, that due to the longer time scale required for in vitro studies (72 h), non-specific proteolysis of both anionic acetylated peptides leads to similar activity in vitro despite differing MMP-9 kinetics during the early stages. Overall, the enhanced stability against non-specific proteases, combined with the ability of these nanofilaments to enhance the effectiveness of gold-based drugs toward cancerous cells compared to healthy cells, brings these acetylated peptide filaments a step closer toward clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Marciano
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
- Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Nazia Nayeem
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
- PhD Program Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Dhwanit Dave
- Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Rein V. Ulijn
- Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 Saint Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maria Contel
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
- PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- PhD Program Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
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14
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Mertens RT, Gukathasan S, Arojojoye AS, Olelewe C, Awuah SG. Next Generation Gold Drugs and Probes: Chemistry and Biomedical Applications. Chem Rev 2023; 123:6612-6667. [PMID: 37071737 PMCID: PMC10317554 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The gold drugs, gold sodium thiomalate (Myocrisin), aurothioglucose (Solganal), and the orally administered auranofin (Ridaura), are utilized in modern medicine for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid and juvenile arthritis; however, new gold agents have been slow to enter the clinic. Repurposing of auranofin in different disease indications such as cancer, parasitic, and microbial infections in the clinic has provided impetus for the development of new gold complexes for biomedical applications based on unique mechanistic insights differentiated from auranofin. Various chemical methods for the preparation of physiologically stable gold complexes and associated mechanisms have been explored in biomedicine such as therapeutics or chemical probes. In this Review, we discuss the chemistry of next generation gold drugs, which encompasses oxidation states, geometry, ligands, coordination, and organometallic compounds for infectious diseases, cancer, inflammation, and as tools for chemical biology via gold-protein interactions. We will focus on the development of gold agents in biomedicine within the past decade. The Review provides readers with an accessible overview of the utility, development, and mechanism of action of gold-based small molecules to establish context and basis for the thriving resurgence of gold in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tyler Mertens
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Sailajah Gukathasan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Adedamola S Arojojoye
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Samuel G Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
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15
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Moreno-Alcántar G, Picchetti P, Casini A. Gold Complexes in Anticancer Therapy: From New Design Principles to Particle-Based Delivery Systems. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218000. [PMID: 36847211 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of the medicinal properties of gold complexes has fuelled the design and synthesis of new anticancer metallodrugs, which have received special attention due to their unique modes of action. Current research in the development of gold compounds with therapeutic properties is predominantly focused on the molecular design of drug leads with superior pharmacological activities, e.g., by introducing targeting features. Moreover, intensive research aims at improving the physicochemical properties of gold compounds, such as chemical stability and solubility in the physiological environment. In this regard, the encapsulation of gold compounds in nanocarriers or their chemical grafting onto targeted delivery vectors could lead to new nanomedicines that eventually reach clinical applications. Herein, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art progress of gold anticancer compounds, andmore importantly we thoroughly revise the development of nanoparticle-based delivery systems for gold chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Moreno-Alcántar
- Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching b. München, Germany
| | - Pierre Picchetti
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Nanotechnology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Angela Casini
- Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching b. München, Germany
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