EJP18 peptide derived from the juxtamembrane domain of epidermal growth factor receptor represents a novel membrane-active cell-penetrating peptide.

Membrane-active peptides have been extensively studied to probe protein-membrane interactions, to act as antimicrobial agents and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) for the delivery of therapeutic agents to cells. Hundreds of membrane-active sequences acting as CPPs have now been described including bioportides that serve as single entity modifiers of cell physiology at the intracellular level. Translation of promising CPPs in pre-clinical studies have, however, been disappointing as only few identified delivery systems have progressed to clinical trials. To search for novel membrane-active peptides a sequence from the EGFR juxtamembrane region was identified (named EJP18), synthesised, and examined in its L- and D-form for its ability to mediate the delivery of a small fluorophore and whole proteins to cancer cell lines. Initial studies identified the peptide as being highly membrane-active causing extensive and rapid plasma membrane reorganisation, blebbing, and toxicity. At lower, non-toxic concentrations the peptides outperformed the well-characterised CPP octaarginine in cellular delivery capacity for a fluorophore or proteins that were associated with the peptide covalently or via ionic interactions. EJP18 thus represents a novel membrane-active peptide that may be used as a naturally derived model for biophysical protein-membrane interactions or for delivery of cargo into cells for therapeutic or diagnostic applications.

Solid lipid particles for oral delivery of peptide and protein drugs I--elucidating the release mechanism of lysozyme during lipolysis.

The mechanism of protein release from solid lipid particles was investigated by a new lipolysis model in a biorelevant medium containing both bile salts and phospholipids. Lysozyme, a model protein, was formulated into solid lipid particles using four different types of lipids, two triglycerides with different chain-length of fatty acyl groups i.e. trimyristin (TG14) and tristearin (TG18), and two lipid blends dominated by diglycerides and monoglycerides, respectively. The release of lysozyme from the solid lipid particles and the lipid hydrolysis process were assessed in the lipolysis model, while the change in particle surface during the lipolysis process was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. The lysozyme release profiles from TG14 and TG18 as well as diglyceride particles correlated well with the release of free fatty acids from the lipid particles during the lipolysis and therefore exhibited a lipase-mediated degradation-based release mechanism. The release of lysozyme from monoglyceride particles was independent on lipase degradation due to the instability of the lipid matrix in the lipolysis medium. In conclusion, the established lipolysis model is successfully used to elucidate the drug release mechanism from solid lipid particles and can potentially be used in rational selection of lipid excipients for oral delivery of peptide/protein drugs.