Broad-spectrum activity of membranolytic cationic macrocyclic peptides against multi-drug resistant bacteria and fungi.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains causes severe problems in the treatment of microbial infections owing to limited treatment options. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are drawing considerable attention as promising antibiotic alternative candidates to combat MDR bacterial and fungal infections. Herein, we present a series of small amphiphilic membrane-active cyclic peptides composed, in part, of various nongenetically encoded hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids. Notably, lead cyclic peptides 3b and 4b showed broad-spectrum activity against drug-resistant Gram-positive (MIC = 1.5-6.2 µg/mL) and Gram-negative (MIC = 12.5-25 µg/mL) bacteria, and fungi (MIC = 3.1-12.5 µg/mL). Furthermore, lead peptides displayed substantial antibiofilm action comparable to standard antibiotics. Hemolysis (HC50 = 230 µg/mL) and cytotoxicity (>70 % cell viability against four different mammalian cells at 100 µg/mL) assay results demonstrated the selective lethal action of 3b against microbes over mammalian cells. A calcein dye leakage experiment substantiated the membranolytic effect of 3b and 4b, which was further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The behavior of 3b and 4b in aqueous solution and interaction with phospholipid bilayers were assessed by employing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, providing a solid structural basis for understanding their membranolytic action. Moreover, 3b exhibited stability in human blood plasma (t1/2 = 13 h) and demonstrated no signs of resistance development against antibiotic-resistant S. aureus and E. coli. These findings underscore the potential of these newly designed amphiphilic cyclic peptides as promising anti-infective agents, especially against Gram-positive bacteria.

Docking and MM study of non-structural protein (NS5) of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) with some derivatives of adenosyl.

Introduction: The flavivirus NS5, a non-structural protein of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), a serious deadly human pathogen responsible for epidemics in South East Asia, consists of N-terminal methyl transferase (MTase) domain and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is known for unique viral genome replication and cap formation activity. S-adenosyl executes a crucial function in these viral activities. S-adenosyl derivatives are chosen as potential binders with the MTase domain of NS5 based on MM and docking studies. Methods: MM GBSA (Generalized Born Surface Area) simulation were performed to evaluate the binding energy, following the 100 nanosecond (ns) production MD simulation in the periodic boundary condition (PBC) for the selected docked ligands with NS5. Quasi-harmonic entropy of the ligands was also calculated with semi-empirical calculations at the PM3/PM6 level supporting docking and MM-GBSA results. Results and discussion: The residue-wise decomposition energy reveals that the key hydrophobic residues Gly 81, Phe 133, and Ile 147 in the RdRp-MTase interface, indicate the biological relevance. These residues act as the key residue stabilizer, binding vigorously with S-Adenosyl derivatives in the vicinity of the interface between the MTase domain and RdRp. This paves the way for the other potential drug as an inhibitor for the enzymatic activity of the NS5.

Additive Effects of Cyclic Peptide [R4W4] When Added Alongside Azithromycin and Rifampicin against Mycobacterium avium Infection.

Mycobacterium avium (M. avium), a type of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), poses a risk for pulmonary infections and disseminated infections in immunocompromised individuals. Conventional treatment consists of a 12-month regimen of the first-line antibiotics rifampicin and azithromycin. However, the treatment duration and low antibiotic tolerability present challenges in the treatment of M. avium infection. Furthermore, the emergence of multidrug-resistant mycobacterium strains prompts a need for novel treatments against M. avium infection. This study aims to test the efficacy of a novel antimicrobial peptide, cyclic [R4W4], alongside the first-line antibiotics azithromycin and rifampicin in reducing M. avium survival. Colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were assessed after treating M. avium cultures with varying concentrations of cyclic [R4W4] alone or in conjunction with azithromycin or rifampicin 3 h and 4 days post-treatment. M. avium growth was significantly reduced 4 days after cyclic [R4W4] single treatment. Additionally, cyclic [R4W4]-azithromycin and cyclic [R4W4]-rifampicin combination treatments at specific concentrations significantly reduced M. avium survival 3 h and 4 days post-treatment compared with single antibiotic treatment alone. These findings demonstrate cyclic [R4W4] as a potent treatment method against M. avium and provide insight into novel therapeutic approaches against mycobacterium infections.

Image-Based Communication for Strengthening Patient Health Education in Rural and Underserved Settings.

Effective communication is the cornerstone of efficient patient care. It is vital to obtain a thorough history, build the patient's trust, and ensure compliance to treatment. Image-based communication (IBC) using comic-like strips is better than the conventional verbal and written modes, as it is inexpensive, less human resource dependent, and diversity agnostic. Strips based on local and socioculturally relevant issues and characters grab readers' attention, are relatable and entertaining, and utilize a storyline that invigorates thinking. The medical advice delivered by an ideal IBC strip is easy to comprehend, has a better recall, and promotes patient adherence. With an idea that IBC strips can serve as a vital supportive tool in underserved and overburdened clinics, we have described the nuances of adapting them into the existing physician-patient experience. We utilize a prototype IBC of an elderly woman helping a family whose child developed acute fever, possibly malaria. Various elements of an IBC strip, namely, panels, gutters, background, characters, bubbles, captions, and visual effects, are illustrated, and their variations are described later. Once designed, an IBC strip must be critically evaluated for the accuracy of the educational message, and errors, if any, must be corrected. The images are then subjected to a series of local field tests to ensure that they serve their purpose and have the desired cultural competence. Once ready, IBC strips can be posted in public spaces and outside clinics or distributed to healthcare workers or patients. Here, they serve as educational and health literacy tools. The strips can significantly reduce caregiver-patient interaction time and improve the quality of communication, especially when patients are illiterate or understand a different language. It is easier to develop rapport and partnership with a patient when the communication is presented through a pictorial tool. An IBC strip can be used to train grassroot workers, who subsequently train patients, thereby serving a dual purpose. To obtain tangible clinical and epidemiologic benefits from IBC strips, rigorous evidence building and standardization are a crucial long-term goal.

siRNA drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a few FDA-approved drugs that provide modest symptomatic benefits and only two FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments for AD. The advancements in understanding the causative genes and non-coding sequences at the molecular level of the pathophysiology of AD have resulted in several exciting research papers that employed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapy. Although siRNA is being sought by academia and biopharma industries, several challenges still need to be addressed. We comprehensively report the latest advances in AD pathophysiology, druggable targets, ongoing clinical trials, and the siRNA-based approaches across the blood-brain barrier for addressing AD. This review describes the latest delivery systems employed to address this barrier. Critical insights and future perspectives on siRNA therapy for AD are also provided.

Design, Synthesis, and Antiproliferative Activity of Benzopyran-4-One-Isoxazole Hybrid Compounds.

The biological significance of benzopyran-4-ones as cytotoxic agents against multi-drug resistant cancer cell lines and isoxazoles as anti-inflammatory agents in cellular assays prompted us to design and synthesize their hybrid compounds and explore their antiproliferative activity against a panel of six cancer cell lines and two normal cell lines. Compounds 5a-d displayed significant antiproliferative activities against all the cancer cell lines tested, and IC50 values were in the range of 5.2-22.2 µM against MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, while they were minimally cytotoxic to the HEK-293 and LLC-PK1 normal cell lines. The IC50 values of 5a-d against normal HEK-293 cells were in the range of 102.4-293.2 µM. Compound 5a was screened for kinase inhibitory activity, proteolytic human serum stability, and apoptotic activity. The compound was found inactive towards different kinases, while it completely degraded after 2 h of incubation with human serum. At 5 µM concentration, it induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 by 50.8%. Overall, these findings suggest that new benzopyran-4-one-isoxazole hybrid compounds, particularly 5a-d, are selective anticancer agents, potentially safe for human cells, and could be synthesized at low cost. Additionally, Compound 5a exhibits potential anticancer activity mediated via inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis.

Amphiphilic Cell-Penetrating Peptides Containing Arginine and Hydrophobic Residues as Protein Delivery Agents.

The entry of proteins through the cell membrane is challenging, thus limiting their use as potential therapeutics. Seven cell-penetrating peptides, designed in our laboratory, were evaluated for the delivery of proteins. Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis was utilized for the synthesis of seven cyclic or hybrid cyclic-linear amphiphilic peptides composed of hydrophobic (tryptophan (W) or 3,3-diphenylalanine (Dip) and positively-charged arginine (R) residues, such as [WR]4, [WR]9, [WWRR]4, [WWRR]5, [(RW)5K](RW)5, [R5K]W7, and [DipR]5. Confocal microscopy was used to screen the peptides as a protein delivery system of model cargo proteins, green and red fluorescein proteins (GFP and RFP). Based on the confocal microscopy results, [WR]9 and [DipR]5 were found to be more efficient among all the peptides and were selected for further studies. [WR]9 (1-10 µM) + protein (GFP and RFP) physical mixture did not show high cytotoxicity (>90% viability) in triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) after 24 h, while [DipR]5 (1-10 µM) physical mixture with GFP exhibited more than 81% cell viability. Confocal microscopy images revealed internalization of GFP and RFP in MDA-MB-231 cells using [WR]9 (2-10 µM) and [DipR]5 (1-10 µM). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis indicated that the cellular uptake of GFP was concentration-dependent in the presence of [WR]9 in MDA-MB-231 cells after 3 h of incubation at 37 °C. The concentration-dependent uptake of GFP and RFP was also observed in the presence of [DipR5] in SK-OV-3 and MDA-MB-231 cells after 3 h of incubation at 37 °C. FACS analysis indicated that the cellular uptake of GFP in the presence of [WR]9 was partially decreased by methyl-ß-cyclodextrin and nystatin as endocytosis inhibitors after 3 h of incubation in MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas nystatin and chlorpromazine as endocytosis inhibitors slightly reduced the uptake of GFP in the presence of [DipR]5 after 3 h of incubation in MDA-MB-231. [WR]9 was able to deliver therapeutically relevant proteins (Histone H2A) at different concentrations. These results provide insight into the use of amphiphilic cyclic peptides in the delivery of protein-related therapeutics.

Molecular modeling of pyrrolo-pyrimidine based analogs as potential FGFR1 inhibitors: a scientific approach for therapeutic drugs.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 (FGFR1) is an emerging target for the development of anticancer drugs. Uncontrolled expression of FGFR1 is strongly associated with a number of different types of cancers. Apart from a few FGFR inhibitors, the FGFR family members have not been thoroughly studied to produce clinically effective anticancer drugs. The application of proper computational techniques may aid in understanding the mechanism of protein-ligand complex formation, which may provide a better notion for developing potent FGFR1 inhibitors. In this study, a variety of computational techniques, including 3D-QSAR, flexible docking and MD simulation followed by MMGB/PBSA, H-bonds and distance analysis, have been performed to systematically explore the binding mechanism of pyrrolo-pyrimidine derivatives against FGFR1. The 3D-QSAR model was generated to deduce the structural determinants of FGFR1 inhibition. The high q2 and r2 values for the CoMFA and CoMSIA models indicated that the created 3D-QSAR models could reliably predict the bioactivities of FGFR1 inhibitors. The computed binding free energies (MMGB/PBSA) for the selected compounds were consistent with the ranking of their experimental binding affinities against FGFR1. Furthermore, per-residue energy decomposition analysis revealed that the residues Lys514 in catalytic region, Asn568, Glu571 in solvent accessible portion and Asp641 in DFG motif exhibited a strong tendency to mediate ligand-protein interactions through the hydrogen bonding and Van Der Waals interactions. These findings may benefit researchers in gaining better knowledge of FGFR1 inhibition and may serve as a guideline for the development of novel and highly effective FGFR1 inhibitors.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Modified Linear Peptides Effectively Silence STAT-3 in Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines.

RNA interference (RNAi) has drawn enormous attention as a powerful tool because of its capability to interfere with mRNA and protein production. However, designing a safe and efficient delivery system in RNAi therapeutics remains challenging. Herein, we have designed and synthesized several linear peptides containing tryptophan (W) and arginine (R) residues separated by the ß-alanine (ßA) spacer and attached to a lipophilic fatty acyl chain, cholesterol, or PEG. The peptide backbone sequences were: Ac-C-ßA-ßA-W4-ßA-ßA-R4-CO-NH2 and Ac-K-ßA-ßA-W4-ßA-ßA-R4-CO-NH2, with only a difference in N-terminal amino acid. The cysteine side chain in the first sequence was used for the conjugation with PEG2000 and PEG550. Alternatively, the side chain of lysine in the second sequence was used for conjugation with cholesterol or oleic acid. We hypothesized that amphiphilic peptides and optimum fatty acyl chain or PEG could function as an effective siRNA carrier by complementing each structural component's self-assembly and membrane internalization properties. None of the designed peptides showed cytotoxicity up to 10 µM. Serum stability studies suggested that the newly designed peptides efficiently protected siRNA against early degradation by nucleases. Flow cytometry analysis indicated 50-90% cellular uptake of siRNA using the newly developed modified linear peptides (MLPs). Western blot results revealed more than 90% protein downregulation after targeting STAT3 in MDA-MB-231 and SKOV-3 cell lines. In summary, a new peptide class was developed to safely and efficiently deliver siRNA.

Assessment of carbonaceous aerosols at Mukteshwar: A high-altitude (~2200 m amsl) background site in the foothills of the Central Himalayas.

The present study examined the equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations measured over 10.5 years (September 2005-March 2016) using a 7-wavelength Aethalometer (AE-31) at Mukteshwar, a high-altitude and regional background site in the foothills of Indian central Himalayas. The total spectral absorption coefficient (babs) was divided into three categories: black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC); fossil fuels (FF) and wood/biomass burning (WB/BB); and primary and secondary sources. At the wavelength of 370 nm, a significant BrC contribution (25 %) to the total babs is identified, characterized by a pronounced seasonal variation with winter (December-January-February) maxima (31 %) and post-monsoon (October and November) minima (20 %); whereas, at 660 nm, the contribution of BrC is dramatically less (9 %). Climatologically, the estimated BCFF at 880 nm ranges from 0.25 ± 0.19 µg m-3 in July to 1.17 ± 0.80 µg m-3 in May with the annual average of 0.67 ± 0.63 µg m-3, accounting for 79 % of the BC mass. The maximum BCFF/BC fraction reaches its peak value during the monsoon (July and August, 85 %), indicating the dominance of local traffic emissions due to tourism activities. Further, the highest BCWB concentration observed during pre-monsoon (March-May) suggests the influence of local forest fires along with long-range transported aerosols from the low-altitude plains. The increased contribution of BrC (26 % at 370 nm) and WB absorption (61 % at 370 nm) to the total absorption at the shorter wavelengths suggests that wood burning is one of the major sources of BrC emissions. Secondary BrC absorption accounts for 24 % [91 %] of the total absorption [BrC absorption] at 370 nm, implying the dominance of secondary sources in BrC formation. A trend analysis for the measured BC concentration shows a statistically significant increasing trend with a slope of 0.02 µgm-3/year with a total increase of about 22 % over the study period. A back trajectory-based receptor model, potential source contribution function (PSCF), was used to identify the potential regional source region of BC. The main source regions of BC are the northwest states of India in the IGP region and the northeast Pakistan region.

Cyclic and Linear Peptides Containing Alternate WW and RR Residues as Molecular Cargo Delivery Tools.

Cell-impermeable and negatively charged compounds' cellular uptake across the cell membranes remains challenging. Herein, the synthesis of four linear [(WWRR)2, (WWRR)3, (WWRR)4, and (WWRR)5] and four cyclic ([WWRR]2, [WWRR]3, [WWRR]4, and [WWRR]5) peptides containing alternate two tryptophan (WW) and two arginine (RR) residues and their biological evaluation as molecular transporters are reported. The peptides did not show any significant cytotoxicity in different cell lines (MDA-MB-23, SK-OV-3, and HEK 293) at a concentration of 5 µM and after 3 h of incubation time. The uptake of fluorescence-labeled cargo molecules (F'-GpYEEI, F'-siRNA, and F'-3TC) in the presence of the peptides was monitored in different cell lines (SK-OV-3 and MDA-MB-231) with fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Among all the peptides, [WWRR]5 (C4) showed the highest cellular uptake of cargo molecules, indicating it can act as effective molecular transporter. Confocal microscopy in MDA-MB-231 cells showed the cellular uptake of F'-GpYEEI in the presence of C4 and the intracellular localization of fluorescence-labeled C4 (F'-C4) in the cytosol. The F'-C4 cellular uptake was found to be concentration- and time-dependent, as shown by flow cytometry in MDA-MB-231 cells. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry of F'-C4 in MDA-MB-231 cells were examined alone and in the presence of different endocytosis inhibitors (chlorpromazine, methyl-ß-cyclodextrin, chloroquine, and nystatin). The data showed that the cellular uptake of F'-C4 in the presence of chlorpromazine, chloroquine, and methyl-ß-cyclodextrin was reduced but not completely eliminated, indicating that both energy-independent and energy-dependent pathways contributed to the cellular uptake of F'-C4. Similar results were obtained using the confocal microscopy of C4 and F'-GpYEEI in the presence of endocytosis inhibitors (chlorpromazine, methyl-ß-cyclodextrin, chloroquine, and nystatin). These data indicate that C4 has the potential to be used as a cell-penetrating peptide and cargo transporter.

Membrane-Active Cyclic Amphiphilic Peptides: Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity Alone and in Combination with Antibiotics.

We designed a library of 24 cyclic peptides containing arginine (R) and tryptophan (W) residues in a sequential manner [RnWn] (n = 2-7) to study the impact of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio, charge, and ring size on the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Among peptides, 5a and 6a demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity. In combination with 11 commercially available antibiotics, 5a and 6a showed remarkable synergism against a large panel of resistant pathogens. Hemolysis (HC50 = 340 µg/mL) and cell viability against mammalian cells demonstrated the selective lethal action of 5a against bacteria over mammalian cells. Calcein dye leakage and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed the membranolytic effect of 5a. Moreover, the stability in human plasma (t1/2 = 3 h) and the negligible ability of pathogens to develop resistance further reflect the potential of 5a for further development as a peptide-based antibiotic.

MIMO Antennas: Design Approaches, Techniques and Applications.

The excessive use of digital platforms with rapidly increasing users in the wireless domain enforces communication systems to provide information with high data rates, high reliability and strong transmission connection quality. Wireless systems with single antenna elements are not able to accomplish the desired needs. Therefore, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas are getting more attention in modern high-speed communication systems and play an essential part in the current generation of wireless technology. However, along with their ability to significantly increase channel capacity, it is a challenge to achieve an optimal isolation in a compact size for fifth-generation (5G) terminals. Portable devices, automobiles, handheld gadgets, smart phones, wireless sensors, radio frequency identification and other applications use MIMO antenna systems. In this review paper, the fundamentals of MIMO antennas, the performance parameters of MIMO antennas, and different design approaches and methodologies are discussed to realize the three most commonly used MIMO antennas, i.e., ultra-wideband (UWB), dual-band and circularly polarized antennas. The recent MIMO antenna design approaches with UWB, dual band and circularly polarized characteristics are compared in terms of their isolation techniques, gain, efficiency, envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) and channel capacity loss (CCL). This paper is very helpful to design suitable MIMO antennas applicable in UWB systems, satellite communication systems, GSM, Bluetooth, WiMAX, WLAN and many more. The issues with MIMO antenna systems in the indoor environment along with possible solutions to improve their performance are discussed. The paper also focuses on the applications of MIMO characteristics for future sixth-generation (6G) technology.

Oleyl Conjugated Histidine-Arginine Cell-Penetrating Peptides as Promising Agents for siRNA Delivery.

Recent approvals of siRNA-based products motivated the scientific community to explore siRNA as a treatment option for several intractable ailments, especially cancer. The success of approved siRNA therapy requires a suitable and safer drug delivery agent. Herein, we report a series of oleyl conjugated histidine-arginine peptides as a promising nonviral siRNA delivery tool. The conjugated peptides were found to bind with the siRNA at N/P ratio ≥ 2 and demonstrated complete protection for the siRNA from early enzymatic degradation at N/P ratio ≥ 20. Oleyl-conjugated peptide -siRNA complexes were found to be noncytotoxic in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and normal breast epithelial cells (MCF 10A) at N/P ratio of ~40. The oleyl-R3-(HR)4 and oleyl-R4-(HR)4 showed ~80-fold increased cellular uptake in MDA-MB-231 cells at N/P 40. Moreover, the conjugated peptides-siRNA complexes form nanocomplexes (~115 nm in size) and have an appropriate surface charge to interact with the cell membrane and cause cellular internalization. Furthermore, this study provides a proof-of-concept that oleyl-R5-(HR)4 can efficiently silence STAT-3 gene (~80% inhibition) in MDA-MB-231 cells with similar effectiveness to Lipofectamine. Further exploration of this approach holds a great promise in discovering a successful in vivo siRNA delivery agent with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile.

Amphiphilic Cell-Penetrating Peptides Containing Natural and Unnatural Amino Acids as Drug Delivery Agents.

A series of cyclic peptides, [(DipR)(WR)4], [(DipR)2(WR)3], [(DipR)3(WR)2], [(DipR)4(WR)], and [DipR]5, and their linear counterparts containing arginine (R) as positively charged residues and tryptophan (W) or diphenylalanine (Dip) as hydrophobic residues, were synthesized and evaluated for their molecular transporter efficiency. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the synthesized peptides was determined in human epithelial ovary adenocarcinoma cells (SK-OV-3), human lymphoblast peripheral blood cells (CCRF-CEM), human embryonic epithelial kidney healthy cells (HEK-293), human epithelial mammary gland adenocarcinoma cells (MDA-MB-468), pig epithelial kidney normal cells (LLC-PK1), and human epithelial fibroblast uterine sarcoma cells (MES-SA). A concentration of 5-10 µM and 3 h incubation were selected in uptake studies. The cellular uptake of a fluorescent-labeled phosphopeptide, stavudine, lamivudine, emtricitabine, and siRNA was determined in the presence of peptides via flow cytometry. Among the peptides, [DipR]5 (10 µM) was found to be the most efficient transporter and significantly improved the uptake of F'-GpYEEI, i.e., by approximately 130-fold after 3 h incubation in CCRF-CEM cells. Confocal microscopy further confirmed the improved delivery of fluorescent-labeled [DipR]5 (F'-[K(DipR)5]) alone and F'-GpYEEI in the presence of [DipR]5 in MDA-MB-231 cells. The uptake of fluorescent-labeled siRNA (F'-siRNA) in the presence of [DipR]5 with N/P ratios of 10 and 20 was found to be 30- and 50-fold higher, respectively, compared with the cells exposed to F'-siRNA alone. The presence of endocytosis inhibitors, i.e., nystatin, chlorpromazine, chloroquine, and methyl ß-cyclodextrin, did not completely inhibit the cellular uptake of F'-[K(DipR)5] alone or F'-GpYEEI in the presence of [DipR]5, suggesting that a combination of mechanisms contributes to uptake. Circular dichroism was utilized to determine the secondary structure, while transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate the particle sizes and morphology of the peptides. The data suggest the remarkable membrane transporter property of [DipR]5 for improving the delivery of various small molecules and cell-impermeable negatively charged molecules (e.g., siRNA and phosphopeptide).

Redox-Responsive Disulfide Cyclic Peptides: A New Strategy for siRNA Delivery.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool capable of targeting virtually any protein without time-consuming and expensive drug development studies. However, due to obstacles facing efficient and safe delivery, RNAi-based therapeutic approach remains a challenge. Herein, we have designed and synthesized a number of disulfide-constraining cyclic and hybrid peptides using tryptophan and arginine residues. Our hypothesis was that peptide structures would undergo reduction by intracellular glutathione (more abundant in cancer cells) and unpack the small interfering RNA (siRNA) from the peptide/siRNA complexes. A subset of newly developed peptides (specifically, C4 and H4) exhibited effective cellular internalization of siRNA (∼70% of the cell population; monitored by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy), the capability of protecting siRNA against early degradation by nucleases (monitored by gel electrophoresis), minimal cytotoxicity in selected cell lines (studied by cell viability and LC50 calculations), and efficient protein silencing by 70-75% reduction in the expression of targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 cells, analyzed using the Western blot technique. Our results indicate the birth of a promising new family of siRNA delivery systems that are capable of safe and efficient delivery, even in the presence of nucleases.

Combination of Amphiphilic Cyclic Peptide [R4W4] and Levofloxacin against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.

Bacterial resistance is a growing global concern necessitating the discovery and development of antibiotics effective against the drug-resistant bacterial strain. Previously, we reported a cyclic antimicrobial peptide [R4W4] containing arginine (R) and tryptophan (W) with a MIC of 2.67 µg/mL (1.95 µM) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Herein, we investigated the cyclic peptides [R4W4] or linear (R4W4) and their conjugates (covalent or noncovalent) with levofloxacin (Levo) with the intent to improve their potency to target drug-resistant bacteria. The physical mixture of the Levo with the cyclic [R4W4] proved to be significantly effective against all strains of bacteria used in the study as compared to covalent conjugation. Furthermore, the checkerboard assay revealed the significant synergistic effect of the peptides against all studied strains except for the wild type S. aureus, in which the partial synergy was observed. The hemolysis assay revealed less cytotoxicity of the physical mixture of the Levo with [R4W4] (22%) as compared to [R4W4] alone (80%). The linear peptide (R4W4) and the cyclic [R4W4] demonstrated ~90% and 85% cell viability at 300 µg/mL in the triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and the normal kidney cells (HEK-293), respectively. Similar trends were also observed in the cell viability of Levo-conjugates on these cell lines. Furthermore, the time-kill kinetic study of the combination of [R4W4] and Levo demonstrate rapid killing action at 4 h for MRSA (ATCC BAA-1556) and 12 h for E. coli (ATCC BAA-2452), P. aeruginosa (ATCC BAA-1744), and K. pneumoniae (ATCC BAA-1705). These results provide the effectiveness of a combination of Levo with cyclic [R4W4] peptide, which may provide an opportunity to solve the intriguing puzzle of treating bacterial resistance.

Amphiphilic cyclic peptide [W4KR5]-Antibiotics combinations as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents.

Linear and cyclic amphiphilic peptides, (W4KR5) and [W4KR5], were evaluated as antibacterial agents against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including four multi-drug resistant strains and the corresponding four non-resistant strains. Cyclic peptide [W4KR5] showed higher antibacterial activity than the linear (W4KR5) counterpart. Cyclic [W4KR5] was subjected to combination (physical mixture or covalent conjugation) with meropenem as a model antibiotic to study the impact of the combination on antimicrobial activity. A physical mixture of meropenem and [W4KR5] showed synergistic antibacterial activity against Gram-negative P. aeruginosa (ATCC BAA-1744) and P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27883) strains. [W4KR5] was further subjected to extensive antibacterial studies against additional 10 bacteria strains, showing significant antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria strains. Combinations studies of [W4KR5] with an additional 9 commercially available antibiotics showed significant enhancement in antibacterial activity for all tested combinations, especially with tetracycline, tobramycin, levofloxacin, clindamycin, daptomycin, polymyxin, kanamycin, and vancomycin. Time-kill kinetics assay and flow cytometry results exhibited that [W4KR5] had a time-dependent synergistic effect and membrane disruption property. These data indicate that [W4KR5] improves the antibacterial activity, presumably by facilitating the internalization of antibiotics and their interaction with the intracellular targets. This study introduces a potential strategy for treating multidrug-resistant pathogens by combining [W4KR5] and a variety of classical antibiotics to improve the antibacterial effectiveness.

[(WR)8WKßA]-Doxorubicin Conjugate: A Delivery System to Overcome Multi-Drug Resistance against Doxorubicin.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast, leukemia, and lymphoma malignancies. However, cardiotoxicity and inherent acquired resistance are major drawbacks, limiting its clinical application. We have previously shown that cyclic peptide [WR]9 containing alternate tryptophan (W) and arginine (R) residues acts as an efficient molecular transporter. An amphiphilic cyclic peptide containing a lysine (K) residue and alternative W and R was conjugated through a free side chain amino group with Dox via a glutarate linker to afford [(WR)8WKßA]-Dox conjugate. Antiproliferative assays were performed in different cancer cell lines using the conjugate and the corresponding physical mixture of the peptide and Dox to evaluate the effectiveness of synthesized conjugate compared to the parent drug alone. [(WR)8WKßA]-Dox conjugate showed higher antiproliferative activity at 10 µM and 5 µM than Dox alone at 5 µM. The conjugate inhibited the cell viability of ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK-OV-3) by 59% and the triple-negative breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 by 71% and 77%, respectively, at a concentration of 5 µM after 72 h of incubation. In contrast, Dox inhibited the proliferation of SK-OV-3, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7 by 35%, 63%, and 57%, respectively. Furthermore, [(WR)8WKßA]-Dox conjugate (5 µM) inhibited the cell viability of Dox-resistant cells (MES-SA/MX2) by 92%, while the viability of cells incubated with free Dox was only 15% at 5 µM. Confocal microscopy images confirmed the ability of both Dox conjugate and the physical mixture of the peptide with the drug to deliver Dox through an endocytosis-independent pathway, as the uptake was not inhibited in the presence of endocytosis inhibitors. The stability of Dox conjugate was observed at different time intervals using analytical HPLC when the conjugate was incubated with 25% human serum. Half-life (t1/2) for [(WR)8WKßA]-Dox conjugate was (∼6 h), and more than 80% of the conjugate was degraded at 12 h. The release of free Dox was assessed intracellularly using the CCRF-CEM cell line. The experiment demonstrated that approximately 100% of free Dox was released from the conjugate intracellularly within 72 h. These data confirm the ability of the cyclic cell-penetrating peptide containing tryptophan and arginine residues as an efficient tool for delivery of Dox and for overcoming resistance to it.

A PDK-1 allosteric agonist neutralizes insulin signaling derangements and beta-amyloid toxicity in neuronal cells and in vitro.

The Alzheimer's brain is affected by multiple pathophysiological processes, which include a unique, organ-specific form of insulin resistance that begins early in its course. An additional complexity arises from the four-fold risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in type 2 diabetics, however there is no definitive proof of causation. Several strategies to improve brain insulin signaling have been proposed and some have been clinically tested. We report findings on a small allosteric molecule that reverses several indices of insulin insensitivity in both cell culture and in vitro models of AD that emphasize the intracellular accumulation of ß-amyloid (Aßi). PS48, a chlorophenyl pentenoic acid, is an allosteric activator of PDK-1, which is an Akt-kinase in the insulin/PI3K pathway. PS48 was active at 10 nM to 1 µM in restoring normal insulin-dependent Akt activation and in mitigating Aßi peptide toxicity. Synaptic plasticity (LTP) in prefrontal cortical slices from normal rat exposed to Aß oligomers also benefited from PS48. During these experiments, neither overstimulation of PI3K/Akt signaling nor toxic effects on cells was observed. Another neurotoxicity model producing insulin insensitivity, utilizing palmitic acid, also responded to PS48 treatment, thus validating the target and indicating that its therapeutic potential may extend outside of ß-amyloid reliance. The described in vitro and cell based-in vitro coupled enzymatic assay systems proved suitable platforms to screen a preliminary library of new analogs.