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Synthesis and cellular characterization of various nano-assemblies of cell penetrating peptide-epirubicin-polyglutamate conjugates for the enhancement of antitumor activity

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posted on 2023-06-09, 09:14 authored by Samaneh Mohammadi, Parvin Zakeri-Milani, Nasim Golkar, Samad Mussa Farkhani, Ali Shirani, Javid Shahbazi Mojarrad, Ali Nokhodchi, Hadi Valizadeh
A new class of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) named peptide amphiphile was designed to improve the intracellular uptake and antitumor activity of epirubicin (EPR). Various amphiphilic CPPs were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis method and were chemically conjugated to EPR. Their corresponding nanoparticles (CPPs-E4 and CPPs-E8) were prepared via non-covalent binding of the peptides and polyanions. Cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity were evaluated by MTT assay. Cellular uptake was examined by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. The CPPs exhibited slight cytotoxicity. Binding of polyglutamate to CPPs (CPPs-E4 and CPPs-E8 nanoparticles) decreased their cytotoxicity. CPPs-E8 nanoparticles showed lower cytotoxicity than CPPs-E4 nanoparticles. Cellular uptake of K3W4K3-E8, K2W4K2-E8 and W3K4W3-E8 reached 100% with no difference between each of the mentioned CPPs and its nanoparticle at 50 µM. The anti-proliferative activity of EPR was enhanced following conjugation to peptides and nanoparticles at 25 µM. CPPs-EPR-E4 and –E8 nanoparticles displayed higher anti-proliferative activity than CPPs-EPR at 25 µM. CPPs–E8-EPR nanoparticles showed higher anti-proliferative activity than CPPs–E4-EPR. K3W4K3-E8-EPR nanoparticles exhibited the highest anti-proliferative activity at 25 µM. The synthesized peptide nanoparticles are proposed as suitable carriers for improving the intracellular delivery of EPR into tumor cells with low cytotoxicity and high antitumor activity.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology

ISSN

2169-1401

Publisher

Informa Healthcare

Page range

1-14

Department affiliated with

  • Chemistry Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Analysis and Partial Differential Equations Research Group Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-12-18

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-09-21

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-12-18

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