Drug delivery to corneal epithelial cells is challenging due to the intrinsic mechanisms that protect the eye. Here we report a novel liposomal formulation to encapsulate and deliver a short sequence peptide into human corneal epithelial cells (hTCEpi). Using a mixture of Phosphatidylcholine/Caproylamine/Dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (PC/CAP/DOPE), we encapsulated a fluorescent peptide, resulting in anionic liposomes with an average size of 138.8 ± 34 nm and a charge of −18.2 ± 1.3 mV. After 2 h incubation with the peptide-encapsulated liposomes, 66% of corneal epithelial (hTCEpi) cells internalized the FITC-labelled peptide, demonstrating the ability of this formulation to effectively deliver peptide to hTCEpi cells. Additionally, lipoplexes (liposomes complexed with plasmid DNA) were also able to transfect hTCEpi cells, albeit at a modest level (8% of the cells). Here, we describe this novel anionic liposomal formulation intended to enhance the delivery of small cargo molecules in situ.
A traceless polymer-supported synthesis of 4-benzoylquinazolines was developed using the following commercially available building blocks: Fmoc-α-amino acids, 2-nitrobenzensulfonyl chlorides and α-bromoacetophenones. The acyclic intermediates underwent base-catalyzed rearrangement involving C-C and N-N bond formation followed by ring expansion and yielded resin-bound dihydroquinazoline-2-carboxylic acids. After they were released from the resin by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid, base-mediated decarboxylation produced the target quinazolines in moderate-to-high yields and purities.
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