Peptide-based vectors: recent developments

Abstract

Peptides and peptide-cargo complexes have been used for drug delivery and gene therapy. One of the most used delivery vectors are cell-penetrating peptides, due to their ability to be taken up by a variety of cell types and deliver a large variety of cargoes through the cell membrane with low cytotoxicity. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown their possibility and full effectiveness to deliver oligonucleotides, plasmid DNA, small interfering RNAs, antibodies, and drugs. We report in this review some of the latest strategies for peptide-mediated delivery of nucleic acids. It focuses on peptide-based vectors for therapeutic molecules and on nucleic acid delivery. In addition, we discuss recent applications and clinical trials.

Amphiphilic dendrimer engineered nanocarrier systems for co-delivery of siRNA and paclitaxel to matrix metalloproteinase-rich tumors for synergistic therapy

“…The TMSP-ADENS would remain unrecognized by normal cells to nullify the non-selectivity of CPP. When they reached the tumor and responded to the MMP stimuli, the exposed CPP would promote cellular uptake [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] . As shown in Fig.…”

A convergent uptake route for peptide- and polymer-based nucleotide delivery systems

“…Therefore, several distinct classes of delivery systems have been developed, one of which is comprised of a group of peptides collectively termed CPPs. CPPs are usually 5-30 amino acids in length, cationic and/or amphipathic and are defined by their ability to pass the cellular membrane with attached cargo [2]. The uptake of CPPs is considered to occur in a receptorindependent manner [3].…”

Macrocyclic Cell Penetrating Peptides: A Study of Structure-Penetration Properties

“…[1][2][3][4] Since their discovery, the cell penetrating properties of CPPs have been harnessed to internalize otherwise impermeable cargos into cells, including small molecules, macromolecules (e.g., proteins, nucleic acids) and nanoparticles. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The majority of CPPs contain a high relative abundance of positively charged amino acids such as lysine (Lys) or arginine (Arg), or display alternating patterns of polar/charged amino acids and non-polar, hydrophobic amino acids. 9,12,13 Arginine-rich CPPs have been used successfully to deliver a broad diversity of biologically active macromolecules intracellularly, although their mechanisms of cellular entry are still under investigation.…”

“…9,20 Thus, several studies have utilized R 8 and R 9 as reference tools to import into cells a variety of biological molecules including siRNA, anticancer drugs, small molecules, proteins, peptides, and oligonucleotides. 10,11 The mechanisms by which CPPs translocate across cell membranes remain a subject of investigation. Certain CPPs, when attached to small cargos, translocate passively across the plasma membrane of cells.…”