Tubular Network Formation by Mixing Amphiphilic Polypeptides with Differing Hydrophilic Blocks.

Artificial tubular networks are promising structures for biomaterial applications because of their large surface areas. A tubular network was formed by co-assembling two different amphiphilic polypeptides, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-(l-Leu-Aib)6 (PL12) and polysarcosine-b-(l-Leu-Aib)6 (SL12). They both have the same hydrophobic 12-mer helical block (l-Leu-Aib)6 but different hydrophilic chains, poly(ethylene glycol) and polysarcosine. In water, both polypeptides self-assembled into a tubular structure having a uniform 80 nm diameter that was formed by packing among the hydrophobic L12 blocks. The SL12 nanotubes were short (200 nm), straight, and robust. PL12 formed long (>1 µm), bendable, and fusogenic nanotubes. The amphiphiles were then co-assembled with various mixing ratios to form tubular networks. Higher concentrations of PL12 made the nanotubes more bendable and fusogenic between open tube ends, which produced branching junctions under heat treatment.

Phosphorylated 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine for advanced DNA labeling.

The representative DNA-labeling agent 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) was chemically modified to improve its function. Chemical monophosphorylation was expected to enhance the efficiency of the substrate in DNA polymerization by circumventing the enzymatic monophosphorylation step that consumes energy. In addition, to enhance cell permeability, the phosphates were protected with bis-pivaloyloxymethyl that is stable in buffer and plasma, and degradable inside various cell types. The phosphorylated EdU (PEdU) was less toxic than EdU, and had the same or a slightly higher DNA-labeling ability in vitro. PEdU was also successfully applied to DNA labeling in vivo. In conclusion, PEdU can be used as a less toxic DNA-labeling agent for studies that require long-term cell survival or very sensitive cell lines.

End-Sealed High Aspect Ratio Hollow Nanotubes Encapsulating an Anticancer Drug: Torpedo-Shaped Peptidic Nanocapsules.

Nanomaterial morphology is important for the targeted delivery of drugs to tissues as well as subsequent cellular uptake. Hollow nanotubes composed of peptides, with a diameter of 80 nm and various lengths (100, 200, 300, 600 nm), were successfully capped and sealed with a peptide hemisphere to encapsulate the anticancer drug, cisplatin. The torpedo-shaped nanocapsules with an aspect ratio (length/diameter) of 2.4 showed more rapid cellular uptake and accumulation at the tumor site compared with spherical analogues. Successful delivery of cisplatin to tumors was achieved in a mouse model and tumor growth was efficiently suppressed.