Overcoming the Stromal Barrier of the Cornea with a Peptide Conjugate Nano-Assembly to Combat Fungal Keratitis.
Adv Healthc Mater
; 12(10): e2202409, 2023 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36588425
ABSTRACT
Fungal hyphae deeply invade the cornea in fungal keratitis. The corneal stroma hinders the infiltration of antifungal drugs and reduces their bioavailability. Here, this work reports a peptide conjugate nano-assembly that permeates the stroma and kills the pathogen without irritating the ocular cornea. The hydrophilic surface of the nano-assembly ensures deep permeation into the stroma. When encountering a fungal hyphal cell, the nano-assembly disassembles and exposes the α-helical peptide to destroy the fungal membrane, thus inactivating the pathogen. In a rabbit model of fungal keratitis, the nano-assembly exhibits a better therapeutic effect than commercially available natamycin ophthalmic suspension. Peptide conjugates with a nano-assembled structure and assembly-disassembly behavior could serve as the foundation of a new therapy for fungal keratitis.
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Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Infecções Oculares Fúngicas
/
Ceratite
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article