Cationic polypeptides in a concept of oppositely charged polypeptides as prevention of postsurgical intraabdominal adhesions

Abstract

Background: Two differently charged polypeptides, α-poly-L-lysine and poly-L-glutamate, have previously been shown to effectively reduce postoperative intraabdominal adhesions. Though α-poly-L-lysine showed toxicity in doses too close to the lowest therapeutic dose, the aim in the present study was to investigate the possible antiadhesive effect of another four cationic polypeptides. Materials/Methods: 125 mice were studied with a standardized and reproducible adhesion model and given epsilon poly-Llysine, lactoferrin, lysozyme and polyarginine respectively in a combination with poly-L-glutamate. Epsilon poly-L-lysine was also tested in different concentrations and as single treatment. Results: All four cationic polypeptides above showed a significantly better anti-adhesive effect than the controls receiving saline (p < 0.05). Epsilon poly-L-lysine had the best antiadhesive effect of the new substances tested in the experiment. Single treatment with the epsilon poly-Llysine showed toxic side effects. Discussion: We have shown that epsilon poly-L-lysine, polyarginine, lysozyme and lactoferrin, in descending order, all can reduce postoperative intraabdominal adhesions in mice when combined with poly-L-glutamate. There were side effects of epsilon poly-L-lysine resembling those of α-poly-L-lysine, although less toxic. The antiadhesive effect of epsilon poly-L-lysine did not reach the level of α-poly-L-lysine. Further studies will concentrate on additional investigation, trying to modify the α-poly-L-lysine to lower its toxicity. The less toxic epsilon poly-L-lysine also needs further attention in our research of antiadhesive bioactive polypeptides.

Plasma-Activated Polypropylene Mesh-Gelatin Scaffold Composite as Potential Implant for Bioactive Hernia Treatment

“…According to the literature, the toxicities of polypeptides and polycations (such ϵPL) are not only dose‐dependent but also and charge‐density dependent. An example of intra‐abdominal toxicity analysis regarding αPL has shown lethal toxicity in mice, which is assumed to be the result of long side chains which penetrate and interact with cell membranes, and burst them causing immediate cell‐death. However, the ϵPL has sufficient charge densities for interaction but the side‐chains are shorter and without hydrophobic segments (it contains only NH 2 groups), thus it carries less membrane cytotoxicity, as is presented by the results.…”

Engineering Functional Nanothin Multilayers on Food Packaging: Ice-Nucleating Polyethylene Films

“…ECINs have been proposed to be large molecules generally existing as lipoglycoproteins, and there is a positive correlation between the aggregate size and ice nucleation activity . The nucleant mass required to initiate ice nucleation at −2 °C was estimated to be around 19 000 kDa by Govindarajan and Lindow, where the ideal (theoretical) and experimental molecular masses of i-carr were 543 and 482 kDa, respectively, and that of ε-PL was reported as only 4.7 kDa …”