Membrane-Active Peptides and Their Potential Biomedical Application

Abstract

Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) possess unique properties that make them valuable tools for studying membrane structure and function and promising candidates for therapeutic applications. This review paper provides an overview of the fundamental aspects of MAPs, focusing on their membrane interaction mechanisms and potential applications. MAPs exhibit various structural features, including amphipathic structures and specific amino acid residues, enabling selective interaction with multiple membranes. Their mechanisms of action involve disrupting lipid bilayers through different pathways, depending on peptide properties and membrane composition. The therapeutic potential of MAPs is significant. They have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi, making them promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. MAPs can selectively target cancer cells and induce apoptosis, opening new avenues in cancer therapeutics. Additionally, MAPs serve as drug delivery vectors, facilitating the transport of therapeutic cargoes across cell membranes. They represent a fascinating class of biomolecules with significant potential in basic research and clinical applications. Understanding their mechanisms of action and designing peptides with enhanced selectivity and efficacy will further expand their utility in diverse fields. Exploring MAPs holds promise for developing novel therapeutic strategies against infections, cancer, and drug delivery challenges.

Tumor-Homing Peptides as Crucial Component of Magnetic-Based Delivery Systems: Recent Developments and Pharmacoeconomical Perspective

“…They can attract specific phenotypes of cancer cells and their environment due to their specificity. THPs contain several typical motifs like arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) and asparagine–glycine–arginine (NGR) peptides, which specifically bind to the molecules on the surface of cancer cells or tumor blood vessels [ 51 ].…”

“…The RGD peptide targets tumor vessels that exhibit a selective expression of αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins [ 51 , 53 ]. These integrins are known to be overexpressed in tumor-associated blood vessels and glioma cells, and their activation initiates pathways that are associated with cell proliferation and tumor-induced angiogenesis [ 53 ].…”

“…The NGR motif is a homing tripeptide that binds to Aminopeptidase N (APN or CD13), which is overexpressed on the surface of many cancer cells [ 51 , 53 ]. In effect, these sequences recognize and bind CD13 on tumor endothelial cells.…”