Modular Design of Supramolecular Ionic Peptides with Cell‐Selective Membrane Activity. (22nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Su; Chang, Yan; Hazoor, Shan; Brautigam, Chad; Foss, Frank W.; Pan, Zui; Dong, He
• Is Part Of: Chembiochem. Volume 22:Number 22(2021)
• Page Start: 3164
• Page End: 3168
• Publication Date: 2021-09-22
• Subjects: drug delivery -- membrane activity -- molecular imaging -- self-assembly -- cell selectivity; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical chemistry -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100323
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-4227

Abstract

Abstract: The rational design of materials with cell‐selective membrane activity is an effective strategy for the development of targeted molecular imaging and therapy. Here we report a new class of cationic multidomain peptides (MDPs) that can undergo enzyme‐mediated molecular transformation followed by supramolecular assembly to form nanofibers in which cationic clusters are presented on a rigid β‐sheet backbone. This structural transformation, which is induced by cells overexpressing the specific enzymes, led to a shift in the membrane perturbation potential of the MDPs, and consequently enhanced cell uptake and drug delivery efficacy. We envision the directed self‐assembly based on modularly designed MDPs as a highly promising approach to generate dynamic supramolecular nanomaterials with emerging membrane activity for a range of disease targeted molecular imaging and therapy applications. Abstract : Molecularly designed cationic peptides having low membrane activity undergo cell‐specific enzyme triggered chemical transformation and self‐assembly to form supramolecular cationic clusters with enhanced membrane activity. The cell‐selective membrane activity by in situ formed peptide assembly is a highly desirable feature for targeted molecular imaging and therapy.