The antitumor activity of Bax BH3 peptide delivered by gold nanoparticles

Abstract

Cancer has long remained one of the primary causes of disease and death globally, and it continues to pose a significant threat to human health. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are traditional treatments for cancer which are still widely used. However, while both surgery and radiotherapy remain acceptably effective in addressing a variety of primary tumors, neither possesses therapeutic potential for unknown metastatic lesions which may exist elsewhere in the patient’s body. Conversely, while systemic chemotherapy does have the potential for therapeutic efficacy on both primary and metastatic lesions alike, drug targeting is often poor, side effects are typically high, and treatment efficacy is still often lacking. Nanomedicine presents a promising solution to the above issues. For example, nanocarriers can be used to increase drug selectivity and targeting, increasing efficacy and decreasing side effects. Based on the role of the lethal domain of Bcl-2 family proteins, which play roles in apoptosis, the BH3-only protein, a section of BH3 peptide with a sequence of Asp-Ala-Ser-Thr-Lys-Lys-Leu-Ser-Glu-Cys-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ile-Gly-Asp-Glu-Leu-Asp-Ser. However, treatments based on soluble BH3 peptides, as with those based on other biologically active macromolecules, exhibit low cell membrane permeability, poor stability against proteolysis, and low endosomal escape rates. In this paper, attempt to address these issues by developing a variety of BH3@gold nanoparticle drug systems with different coating ratios. We demonstrate, high loading efficiency and, excellent anti-tumor effects in vitro, including inhibition of proliferation and migration in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, A549. Our results present a new possibility for anticancer peptide drugs in the future.

Poly(ionic liquid) composite oxygenated graphite carbon nitride for enhanced photocatalytic and synergistic bacteriostasis

“…[40][41][42][43] Poly ionic liquids (PIL) have also been intensively studied as a potent endogenously excited bacteriostatic agent. 44 PIL are a class of polymers composed of organic cations and inorganic anions that have the dual properties of ionic liquid and polymer. 45 The charged ions in the PIL can interact with the charged substances on the bacterial surface, and the binding between the alkyl chains and the microbial membrane will result in the insertion of hydrophobic groups into the lipid bilayer, disrupting the bacterial biofilm structure and cell wall, leading to cell death.…”

Engineered Polymeric Nanovector for Intracellular Peptide Delivery in Antitumor Therapy

“…[13][14][15][16][17] In our previous study, we synthesized and evaluated a peptide containing 20 amino acid sequences depending on the Bax-BH3 domain, namely BHP, which could be considered a novel small-molecule anticancer peptide drug. 18 However, BHP is hindered by inefficacious cellular internalization and proteolytic resistance. The design of an appropriate drug carrier to deliver BHP and ensure its uptake by cells is a critical aspect of cancer treatment efficacy.…”