Effect of cisplatin containing liposomes formulated by unsaturated chain-containing lipids on gynecological tumor cells.

Gynecological tumors are major therapeutic areas of platinum-based anticancer drugs. Here, we report the characterization and in vitro biological assays of cisplatin-containing Egg L-α-phosphatidylcholine liposomes with different amounts of cholesterol. Dynamic light scattering estimated sizes of all obtained liposomes in the 100 nm range that are suitable for in vivo use. On the basis of these data and of the drug loading values, the best formulation has been selected. Stability and drug release properties of platinum-containing liposomes have been verified in serum. The growth inhibitory effects of both liposomal and free drug in a panel of ovarian and breast human cancer cell lines, characterized by a different drug sensitivity, give comparable or better results with respect to free cisplatin drug.

Incorporation of Naked Peptide Nucleic Acids into Liposomes Leads to Fast and Efficient Delivery.

The delivery of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to cells is a very challenging task. We report here that a liposomal formulation composed of egg PC/cholesterol/DSPE-PEG2000 can be loaded, according to different encapsulation techniques, with PNA or fluorescent PNA oligomers. PNA loaded liposomes efficiently and quickly promote the uptake of a PNA targeting the microRNA miR-210 in human erythroleukemic K562 cells. By using this innovative delivery system for PNA, down-regulation of miR-210 is achieved at a low PNA concentration.

Liposomal doxorubicin doubly functionalized with CCK8 and R8 peptide sequences for selective intracellular drug delivery.

A new dual-ligand liposomal doxorubicin delivery system, which couples targeting to enhanced cellular uptake and may lead to a more efficient drug delivery system, is here designed and synthetized. Liposomes based on the composition 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-Peg2000-R8/(C18)2-L5-SS-CCK8 (87/8/5 mol/mol/mol) were prepared and loaded with doxorubicin. Presence of the two peptides on the external surface is demonstrated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay. The combination of the R8 cell-penetrating peptide and of the CCK8 targeting peptide (homing peptide) on the liposome surface is obtained by combining pre-modification and post-modification methods. In the dual-ligand system, the CCK8 peptide is anchored to the liposome surface by using a disulfide bond. This chemical function is inserted in order to promote the selective cleavage of the homing peptide under the reductive conditions expected in proximity of the tumor site, thus allowing targeting and internalization of the liposomal drug.

Influence of PEG length on conformational and binding properties of CCK peptides exposed by supramolecular aggregates.

Five novel peptide amphiphiles (PAs), with common formula (C18)2-PEGx-CCK8 in which the CCK8 peptide and the (C18)2-hydrophobic moiety are spaced by polyethylene linkers of different length (PEG moieties with molecular weights of 700, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 3000 Daltons) are described. They act as potential target-selective nanocarriers towards tumor cells overexpressing cholecistokynin receptors. PAs self-assemble in supramolecular aggregates, with hydrodynamic radius ranging between 63 and 104 nm, as indicated by DLS measurements. Fluorescence studies suggested that, irrespective from the PEG length, the tryptophan residue located at the center of the CCK8 sequence is completely surrounded by water molecules at high mobility. This result indicates a potential capability of all formulated nanovectors to recognize the overexpressed CCK-2 receptors. CD data suggest that CCK8 peptide, in most of PAs in their aggregate form, adopts a conformation allowing the interaction with the receptor. Anyway, biological data obtained by flow cytometry analysis indicate that the five PAs have a different binding ability towards the CCK-2 receptors, with higher binding properties shown by PA containing PEG with MW of 2000 Dalton. Therefore, PEG2000 can be considered as the best spacer in the formulation of nanovectors based on CCK8 peptide amphiphiles.

Best Practices for Aggregate Quantitation of Antibody Therapeutics by Sedimentation Velocity Analytical Ultracentrifugation.

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a critical analytical tool supporting the development and manufacture of protein therapeutics. AUC is routinely used as an assay orthogonal to size exclusion chromatography for aggregate quantitation. This article distills the experimental and analysis procedures used by the authors for sedimentation velocity AUC into a series of best-practices considerations. The goal of this distillation is to help harmonize aggregate quantitation approaches across the biopharmaceutical industry. We review key considerations for sample and instrument suitability, experimental design, and data analysis best practices and conversely, highlight potential pitfalls to accurate aggregate analysis. Our goal is to provide experienced users benchmarks against which they can standardize their analyses and to provide guidance for new AUC analysts that will aid them to become proficient in this fundamental technique.

A heme-peptide metalloenzyme mimetic with natural peroxidase-like activity.

Mimicking enzymes with alternative molecules represents an important objective in synthetic biology, aimed to obtain new chemical entities for specific applications. This objective is hampered by the large size and complexity of enzymes. The manipulation of their structures often leads to a reduction of enzyme activity. Herein, we describe the spectroscopic and functional characterization of Fe(III)-mimochrome VI, a 3.5 kDa synthetic heme-protein model, which displays a peroxidase-like catalytic activity. By the use of hydrogen peroxide, Fe(III)-mimochrome VI efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of several substrates, with a typical Michaelis-Menten mechanism and with several multiple turnovers. The catalytic efficiency of Fe(III)-mimochrome VI in the oxidation of 2,2'-azino-di(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and guaiacol (k(cat)/K(m)=4417 and 870 mM(-1) s(-1), respectively) is comparable to that of native horseradish peroxidase (HRP, k(cat)/K(m)=5125 and 500 mM(-1) s(-1), respectively). Fe(III)-mimochrome VI also converts phenol to 4- and 2-nitrophenol in the presence of NO(2) (-) and H(2) O(2) in high yields. These results demonstrate that small synthetic peptides can impart high enzyme activities to metal cofactors, and anticipate the possibility of constructing new biocatalysts tailored to specific functions.

Redox and electrocatalytic properties of mimochrome VI, a synthetic heme peptide adsorbed on gold.

Mimochrome VI (MC-VI) is a synthetic heme peptide containing a helix-heme-helix sandwich motif designed to reproduce the catalytic activity of heme oxidases. The thermodynamics of Fe(III) to Fe(II) reduction and the kinetics of the electron-transfer process for MC-VI immobilized through hydrophobic interactions on a gold electrode coated with a nonpolar SAM of decane-1-thiol have been determined through cyclic voltammetry. Immobilization slightly affects the reduction potential of MC-VI, which under these conditions electrocatalytically turns over molecular oxygen. This work sets the premise for the exploitation of totally synthetic mimochrome-modified electrode surfaces for clinical and pharmaceutical biosensing.

Molecular strategies for protein stabilization: the case of a trehalose/maltose-binding protein from Thermus thermophilus.

The trehalose/maltose-binding protein (MalE1) is one component of trehalose and maltose uptake system in the thermophilic organism Thermus thermophilus. MalE1 is a monomeric 48 kDa protein predominantly organized in alpha-helix conformation with a minor content of beta-structure. In this work, we used Fourier-infrared spectroscopy and in silico methodologies for investigating the structural stability properties of MalE1. The protein was studied in the absence and in the presence of maltose as well as in the absence and in the presence of SDS at different p(2)H values (neutral p(2)H and at p(2)H 9.8). In the absence of SDS, the results pointed out a high thermostability of the MalE1 alpha-helices, maintained also at basic p(2)H values. However, the obtained data also showed that at high temperatures the MalE1 beta-sheets underwent to structural rearrangements that were totally reversible when the temperature was lowered. At room temperature, the addition of SDS to the protein solution slightly modified the MalE1 secondary structure content by decreasing the protein thermostability. The infrared data, corroborated by molecular dynamics simulation experiments performed on the structure of MalE1, indicated that the protein hydrophobic interactions have an important role in the MalE1 high thermostability. Finally, the results obtained on MalE1 are also discussed in comparison with the data on similar thermostable proteins already studied in our laboratories.

D-galactose/D-glucose-binding Protein from Escherichia coli as Probe for a Non-consuming Glucose Implantable Fluorescence Biosensor.

D-Galactose/D-glucose-binding protein from E. coli (GGBP) is a monomer thatbinds glucose with high affinity. The protein structure of GGBP is organized in twoprincipal domains linked by a hinge region that form the sugar-binding site. In this workwe show that the mutant form of GGBP at the amino acid position 182 can be utilized as aprobe for the development of a non-consuming analyte fluorescence biosensor to monitorthe glucose level in diabetes health care.

Supramolecular Delivery Systems for Non-Platinum Metal-Based Anticancer Drugs.

Stimulated by the enormous success of the inorganic complex cisplatin in tumor treatment, interest in metal complexes has recently grown. Within cells, metal complexes can participate in reactions that are not possible with conventional organic substances, and most of them have promising efficacy as anticancer drugs. However, to be effective in vivo metal complexes need adequate delivery systems able to increase their water solubility, the in vivo bioavailability, and the safe delivery to target organs. The present review reports on the state of the art of these new, nonplatinum, anticancer metallodrugs delivered by nanosized vehicles. The development of complexes of ruthenium, gold, cobalt, copper, gallium, and others that show promising antitumor efficacy is reported, and we emphasize the different approaches in the individuation of the most appropriate delivery system for each of them.

Liposomes derivatized with multimeric copies of KCCYSL peptide as targeting agents for HER-2-overexpressing tumor cells.

Mixed liposomes, obtained by coaggregation of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and of the synthetic monomer containing a gadolinium complex ([C18]2DTPA[Gd]) have been prepared. Liposomes externally decorated with KCCYSL (P6.1 peptide) sequence in its monomeric, dimeric, and tetrameric forms are studied as target-selective delivery systems toward cancer cells overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) receptors. Derivatization of liposomal surface with targeting peptides is achieved using the postmodification method: the alkyne-peptide derivative Pra-KCCYSL reacts, through click chemistry procedures, with a synthetic surfactant modified with 1, 2, or 4 azido moieties previously inserted in liposome formulation. Preliminary in vitro data on MDA-MB-231 and BT-474 cells indicated that liposomes functionalized with P6.1 peptide in its tetrameric form had better binding to and uptake into BT-474 cells compared to liposomes decorated with monomeric or dimeric versions of the P6.1 peptide. BT-474 cells treated with liposomes functionalized with the tetrameric form of P6.1 showed high degree of liposome uptake, which was comparable with the uptake of anti-HER-2 antibodies such as Herceptin. Moreover, magnetic MRI experiments have demonstrated the potential of liposomes to act as MRI contrast agents.

The influence of liposomal formulation on the incorporation and retention of PNA oligomers.

Liposomal formulations composed of phospholipids with different unsaturation degrees, head groups and at different cholesterol content have been tested for the encapsulation of Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) oligomers. The best loading capability (177µg, ER%=87.2) was obtained for pure liposomes of phosphatidylglycerol (DOPG) with negatively charged head group. The insertion of a 10-20% of cholesterol in DOPG based liposomes provides a slight decrease (∼160µg) of the PNA loading. On the other hand, the cholesterol addition (20-30%) slows down the PNA's release (∼27%) in fetal bovine serum from the liposomal formulation. Based on the encapsulation and the release properties, PEGylated DOPG liposomes with a percentage of cholesterol of 10-20% are the optimal formulation for the loading of PNA-a210.

Pre-clinical evaluation of eight DOTA coupled gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) ligands for in vivo targeting of receptor-expressing tumors.

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) has been documented in several human neoplasms such as breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer. There is growing interest in developing radiolabeled peptide-based ligands toward these receptors for the purpose of in vivo imaging and radionuclide therapy of GRP-R-overexpressing tumors. A number of different peptide sequences, isotopes, and labeling methods have been proposed for this purpose. The aim of this work is to perform a direct side-by-side comparison of different GRP-R binding peptides utilizing a single labeling strategy to identify the most suitable peptide sequence. METHODS: Solid-phase synthesis of eight derivatives (BN1-8) designed based on literature analysis was carried out. Peptides were coupled to the DOTA chelator through a PEG4 spacer at the N-terminus. Derivatives were characterized for serum stability, binding affinity on PC-3 human prostate cancer cells, biodistribution in tumor-bearing mice, and gamma camera imaging at 1, 6, and 24 h after injection. RESULTS: Serum stability was quite variable among the different compounds with half-lives ranging from 16 to 400 min at 37 °C. All compounds tested showed K d values in the nanomolar range with the exception of BN3 that showed no binding. Biodistribution and imaging studies carried out for compounds BN1, BN4, BN7, and BN8 showed targeting of the GRP-R-positive tumors and the pancreas. The BN8 compound (DOTA-PEG-DPhe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-NMeGly-His-Sta-Leu-NH2) showed high affinity, the longest serum stability, and the highest target-to-background ratios in biodistribution and imaging experiments among the compounds tested. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the NMeGly for Gly substitution and the Sta-Leu substitution at the C-terminus confer high serum stability while maintaining high receptor affinity, resulting in biodistribution properties that outperform those of the other peptides.

Diolein Based Nanostructures as Targeted Theranostics.

Diolein based non-targeted theranostic nanoparticles (DO-NPs) containing 10%wt of the amphiphilic Gadolinium complex (C18)2DTPA(Gd), and targeted NPs, obtained by introducing growing amounts (3% wt, 6% wt or 10% wt) of (C18)2-Peg3000- FA in the sample composition, have been studied for their in vitro and in vivo properties. Cellular binding was studied by lCP-MS analysis of the Gadolinium content and by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) assays. The best formulation in terms of selectivity towards IGROV-1 cells with respect to non-targeted DO-NPs, was that containing 3% (C18)2Peg3000- FA (P < 0.01). Cytotoxic studies and confocal microscopy analysis of IGROV-1 cells indicate high selective properties of the targeted doxorubicin (DOX) loaded NPs. Nanoparticles described here represent the first example in which a targeted carrier characterized by a stable foamy mesophase, provided by the Diolein component, combine the therapeutic effect due to the anticancer drug doxorubicin, with the imaging properties provided by paramagnetic gadolinium complexes for MRI. As evidenced by T(1w), and T(2w) MRI images and by the in vivo antitumor effect in IGROV-1 tumor-bearing mice, DO-NP3-FA/DOX provides very high therapeutic efficacy with a tumor growth regression of 80% and 50% higher as compared to the mice treated with saline solution and with Doxil, respectively.

Target selective micelles for bombesin receptors incorporating Au(III)-dithiocarbamato complexes.

Pure sterically stabilized micelles (SSM) of DSPE-PEG2000, and sterically stabilized mixed micelles (SSMM) containing PC or DOPC phospholipids (5, 10 or 20% mol/mol with respect to DSPE-PEG2000) are developed as delivery systems for the gold based cytotoxic drug Au(III)-dithiocarbamato complex AuL12. In particular, SSMM containing 5% of PC at 5mM of lipid concentration encapsulates 61.0 µg of AuL12 with a DL% of 1.13. The gold complex remains stable up to 72 h when incorporated in the aggregate, as indicated by UV-vis measurements. Incorporation in micelle composition of a low amount of the peptide derivative MonY-BN-AA1, containing a bombesin peptide analogue does not influence structural parameters of the micelles (diameter around 20 nm) neither the AuL12 loading parameters. Target selective properties of the peptide containing full aggregate on PC-3 cells overexpressing the GRP/bombesin receptors are observed by in vitro cytotoxic studies: a decrease of cell viability, ∼ 50%, is obtained in cells treated with AuL12-targeted micelles at 10 µM drug concentration for 48 h with respect to untargeted micelles.

Self-assembled or mixed peptide amphiphile micelles from Herpes simplex virus glycoproteins as potential immunomodulatory treatment.

The use of micelle aggregates formed from peptide amphiphiles (PAs) as potential synthetic self-adjuvant vaccines to treat Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection are reported here. The PAs were based on epitopes gB409-505 and gD301-309, selected from HSV envelope glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein D (gD), that had their N-terminus modified with hydrophobic moieties containing two C18 hydrocarbon chains. Pure and mixed micelles of gB and/or gD peptide epitopes were easily prepared after starting with the synthesis of corresponding PAs by solid phase methods. Structural characterization of the aggregates confirmed that they were sufficiently stable and compatible with in vivo use: critical micelle concentration values around 4.0 ⋅ 10(-7) mol ⋅ Kg(-1); hydrodynamic radii (RH) between 50-80 nm, and a zeta potential (ζ) around - 40 mV were found for all aggregates. The in vitro results indicate that both peptide epitopes and micelles, at 10 µM, triggered U937 and RAW 264.7 cells to release appreciable levels of cytokines. In particular, interleukin (IL)-23-, IL-6-, IL-8- or macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2-, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-release increased considerably when cells were treated with the gB-micelles or gD-micelles compared with the production of the same cytokines when the stimulus was the single gB or gD peptide.