The Plasma Membrane as a Reservoir,Protective Shield,and Light‐Triggered Launch Pad for Peptide Therapeutics |
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| Authors: | Colin P. O'Banion Dr. Luong T. Nguyen Prof. Qunzhao Wang Prof. Melanie A. Priestman Prof. Stephen P. Holly Prof. Leslie V. Parise Prof. David S. Lawrence |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, and Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;2. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA |
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| Abstract: | Although peptide‐based therapeutics are finding increasing application in the clinic, extensive structural modification is typically required to prevent their rapid degradation by proteases in the blood. We have evaluated the ability of erythrocytes to serve as reservoirs, protective shields (against proteases), and light‐triggered launch pads for peptides. We designed lipidated peptides that are anchored to the surface of red blood cells, which furnishes a protease‐resistant environment. A photocleavable moiety is inserted between the lipid anchor and the peptide backbone, thereby enabling light‐triggered peptide release from erythrocytes. We have shown that a cell‐permeable peptide, a hormone (melanocyte stimulating hormone), and a blood‐clotting agent can be anchored to erythrocytes, protected from proteases, and photolytically released to create the desired biological effect. |
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| Keywords: | targeted delivery peptides peptide drugs photochemistry proteolysis |
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