Cell penetrating peptide: A potent delivery system in vaccine development

Abstract

One of the main obstacles to most medication administrations (such as the vaccine constructs) is the cellular membrane’s inadequate permeability, which reduces their efficiency. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) or protein transduction domains (PTDs) are well-known as potent biological nanocarriers to overcome this natural barrier, and to deliver membrane-impermeable substances into cells. The physicochemical properties of CPPs, the attached cargo, concentration, and cell type substantially influence the internalization mechanism. Although the exact mechanism of cellular uptake and the following processing of CPPs are still uncertain; but however, they can facilitate intracellular transfer through both endocytic and non-endocytic pathways. Improved endosomal escape efficiency, selective cell targeting, and improved uptake, processing, and presentation of antigen by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) have been reported by CPPs. Different in vitro and in vivo investigations using CPP conjugates show their potential as therapeutic agents in various medical areas such as infectious and non-infectious disorders. Effective treatments for a variety of diseases may be provided by vaccines that can cooperatively stimulate T cell-mediated immunity (T helper cell activity or cytotoxic T cell function), and immunologic memory. Delivery of antigen epitopes to APCs, and generation of a potent immune response is essential for an efficacious vaccine that can be facilitated by CPPs. The current review describes the delivery of numerous vaccine components by various CPPs and their immunostimulatory properties.

Cell Penetrating Peptides: Classification, Mechanisms, Methods of Study, and Applications

“…These properties are particularly desirable in the case of macromolecules of therapeutic interest, which are otherwise poorly permeable through biological membranes. [1][2][3] Hundreds of studies and reports have shown that CPPs as are excellent tools for promoting intracellular delivery of a wide range of bioactive molecules, including oligonucleotides, siRNA [4,5] anticancer drugs, [6] bioimaging agents, [7][8][9] DNA, nanoparticles, [10][11][12] proteins, [1,13] and other peptides. This broad potential of applications is witnessed by several ongoing studies and clinical trials that confirm its success both in vitro and in vivo applications.…”

“…Cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a diverse group of short peptides with the ability to cross cell membranes without impairing their structural and functional integrity, which have been widely investigated to deliver bioactive molecules, therapeutics, and theragnostic cargoes within the cellular environment. These properties are particularly desirable in the case of macromolecules of therapeutic interest, which are otherwise poorly permeable through biological membranes [1–3] . Hundreds of studies and reports have shown that CPPs as are excellent tools for promoting intracellular delivery of a wide range of bioactive molecules, including oligonucleotides, siRNA [4,5] anticancer drugs, [6] bioimaging agents, [7–9] DNA, nanoparticles, [10–12] proteins, [1,13] and other peptides.…”