Cyclic Peptide–Selenium Nanoparticles as Drug Transporters

Abstract

A cyclic peptide composed of five tryptophan, four arginine, and one cysteine [W5R4C] was synthesized. The peptide was evaluated for generating cyclic peptide-capped selenium nanoparticles (CP–SeNPs) in situ. A physical mixing of the cyclic peptide with SeO3–2 solution in water generated [W5R4C]–SeNPs via the combination of reducing and capping properties of amino acids in the peptide structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that [W5R4C]–SeNPs were in the size range of 110–150 nm. Flow cytometry data revealed that a fluorescence-labeled phosphopeptide (F′-PEpYLGLD, where F′ = fluorescein) and an anticancer drug (F′-dasatinib) exhibited approximately 25- and 9-times higher cellular uptake in the presence of [W5R4C]–SeNPs than those of F′-PEpYLGLD and dasatinib alone in human leukemia (CCRF-CEM) cells after 2 h of incubation, respectively. Confocal microscopy also exhibited higher cellular delivery of F′-PEpYLGLD and F′-dasatinib in the presence of [W5R4C]–SeNPs compared to the parent fluorescence-labeled drug alone in human ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK-OV-3) cells after 2 h of incubation at 37 °C. The antiproliferative activities of several anticancer drugs doxorubicin, gemcitabine, clofarabine, etoposide, camptothecin, irinotecan, epirubicin, fludarabine, dasatinib, and paclitaxel were improved in the presence of [W5R4C]–SeNPs (50 μM) by 38%, 49%, 36%, 36%, 31%, 30%, 30%, 28%, 24%, and 17%, respectively, after 48 h incubation in SK-OV-3 cells. The results indicate that CP–SeNPs can be potentially used as nanosized delivery tools for negatively charged biomolecules and anticancer drugs.

Quantum‐Chemical Modeling of Cyclic Peptide‐Selenium Nanoparticle as an Anticancer Drug Nanocarrier

“…The calculated E g and η of CPSeNP/GCB1‐15 are lower than those of CP and GCB drug, demonstrating the reactivity of CP and GCB increases for CPSeNP/GCB1‐15 systems in both phases. Since ω is utilized to predict toxicity, it may be concluded that the toxicity of SeNP is reduced in the presence of the GCB and CP . The ω values of CPSeNP/GCB1‐15 are higher than those of GCB in both phases, indicating that GCB is the electron acceptor.…”

Cationic Cell-Penetrating Peptides Are Potent Furin Inhibitors

“…In addition to the linear CPPs, a number of synthetic cyclic polyarginines with efficient cell permeability have also been recently proposed as CPPs to assist the intracellular delivery of proteins, drugs and nucleic acids [ 12 , 14 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Our results show that these cyclic polyarginines also represent potent inhibitors of furin activity in vitro .…”

A rapid synthesis and antibacterial property of selenium nanoparticles using egg white lysozyme as a stabilizing agent

“…Nowadays, research on direct conjugation of biocompatible agents and biomolecules to nanoparticles is accomplishable [38]. For example, SeNPs capped with biocompatible agents, such as lipid bilayers [39,40] and dendrimers [41], have been prepared with water solubility and potential biocompatibility. Biomolecules, such as amino acid, have also been used as protective agents for the formation of SeNPs.…”