The antimicrobial protein CAP18 (approximate
molecular weight:
18 000), which was first isolated from rabbit granulocytes,
comprises a C-terminal fragment that has negatively charged lipopolysaccharide
binding activity. In this study, we found that CAP18 (106–121)-derived
(sC18)2 peptides have macropinocytosis-inducible biological
functions. In addition, we found that these peptides are highly applicable
for use as extracellular vesicle (exosomes, EV)-based intracellular
delivery, which is expected to be a next-generation drug delivery
carrier. Here, we demonstrate that dimerized (sC18)2 peptides
can be easily introduced on EV membranes when modified with a hydrophobic
moiety, and that they show high potential for enhanced cellular uptake
of EVs. By glycosaminoglycan-dependent induction of macropinocytosis,
cellular EV uptake in targeted cells was strongly increased by the
peptide modification made to EVs, and intriguingly, our herein presented
technique is efficiently applicable for the cytosolic delivery of
the biologically cell-killing functional toxin protein, saporin, which
was artificially encapsulated in the EVs by electroporation, suggesting
a useful technique for EV-based intracellular delivery of biofunctional
molecules.
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