Delivery of therapeutics and molecules using self-assembled peptides

Curr Med Chem. 2014;21(22):2469-79. doi: 10.2174/0929867321666131212152637.

Abstract

The use of nanobiotechnology in the formulation of drug carriers has been gaining popularity in recent years. Peptide self-assembly technology is a particularly attractive option due to its simplicity and programmability. Selfassembling peptide amphiphiles are surfactant-like molecules that are capable of spontaneous organization into a variety of nanostructures. The structural and functional features of these nanostructures can be designed through alterations to the peptide sequence. With a keen understanding of the supramolecular principles governing the non-covalent interactions involved, drug loading strategies can be customised. Hydrophobic drugs can be hidden within the core via aromatic interactions while gene-based therapeutics can be complexed with a cationic region of lysine residues. This review article focuses on the application of self-assembling peptide amphiphiles to drug delivery in the area of anti-cancer therapeutics, protein- and peptide-based therapeutics and nucleic acid-based therapeutics. Specific examples are used to discuss the various systems available and emphasis is given to the encapsulation and release mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Nucleic Acids / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Proteins / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Peptides
  • Proteins