Branched amphiphilic peptide capsules: Cellular uptake and retention of encapsulated solutes

Abstract

Branched amphiphilic peptide capsules (BAPCs) are peptide nanospheres comprised of equimolar proportions of two branched peptide sequences bis(FLIVI)-K-KKKK and bis(FLIVIGSII)-K-KKKK that self-assemble to form bi-layer delimited capsules. In two recent publications we described the lipid analogous characteristics of our BAPCs, examined their initial assembly, mode of fusion, solute encapsulation, and resizing and delineated their capability to be maintained at a specific size by storing them at 4 °C. In this report we describe the stability, size limitations of encapsulation, cellular localization, retention and, bio-distribution of the BAPCs in vivo. The ability of our constructs to retain alpha particle emitting radionuclides without any apparent leakage and their persistence in the peri-nuclear region of the cell for extended periods of time, coupled with their ease of preparation and potential tune-ability, makes them attractive as biocompatible carriers for targeted cancer therapy using particle emitting radioisotopes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Interfacially active peptides and proteins.

Anatomical study of the female reproductive system and bacteriome of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, (Insecta: Hemiptera, Liviidae) using micro-computed tomography

“…These specimens (shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8; Supplementary Video S3) were fed for three days on an orange tree sprig submerged in BAPC (Branched Amphiphilic Peptide Capsules) linked to Hg as a contrast agent 104 . They were rinsed three times www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ in 30% ethanol (10 min for each rinse), dehydrated in an ethanol series (30 min per step, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and three times at 100%), chemically dried by submersion in 2 ml of 100% hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) for 2 hours and dried overnight at 35 °C.…”

A review of solute encapsulating nanoparticles used as delivery systems with emphasis on branched amphipathic peptide capsules

“…As showed by Sukthankar et al 198 nanocapsules are formed with an average diameter of 20–30 nm with an internal volume of 4000 nm 3 allowing them to be considered as possible candidates for the encapsulation of a large number of different molecules including proteins. For this purpose BAPCs were used to encapsulate TAMRA-labeled TRNase A (RNase A, 13.7 kDa) and TAMRA-labeled cytochrome c (Tcytc, ~12 kDa).…”

“…To date 198 , ( in vitro ) we have been able to load the BAPCs with 225 Ac that have stably retained ≥95% of their activity over 7 days, and shown that cultured cells readily take-up non-lethal concentrations of encapsulated 225 Ac. In vivo (Fig.…”

BAPC-assistedCRISPR/Cas9 System: Targeted Delivery into Adult Ovaries for Heritable Germline Gene Editing (Arthropoda: Hemiptera)

“…Injection directly into the 4 th and 5 th nymphs, pupae, or adults proved to be easier, and more effective (Hunter, Gonzalez, Tomich 2018). Because previous research with BAPC-assisted delivery of dsRNA and plasmids resulted in efficient delivery into insects and animal cells in cultures (Avila et al, 2018; Sukthankar et al, 2014), an experiment was designed to evaluate the incorporation of BAPC to improve delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components into arthropod ovaries of adult hemipterans (Psyllids and Leafhoppers) for heritable embryonic gene editing.…”