Ultrashort Peptide Theranostic Nanoparticles by Microfluidic-Assisted Rapid Solvent Exchange

Abstract

Ultrashort peptides (USPs), composed of three to seven amino acids, can self-assemble into nanofibers in pure water. Here, using hydrodynamic focusing and a solvent exchange method on a microfluidic setup, we convert these nanofibers into globular nanoparticles with excellent dimensional control and polydispersity. Thanks to USP nanocarriers' structure, different drugs can be loaded. We used Curcumin as a model drug to evaluate the performance of USP nanocarriers as a novel drug delivery vehicle. These nanoparticles can efficiently cross the cell membrane and possess nonlinear optical properties. Therefore, we envisage USP nanoparticles as promising future theranostic nanocarriers.

The Present and Future Role of Microfluidics for Protein and Peptide-Based Therapeutics and Diagnostics

“…USPs, Figure 6, have been observed to self-assemble into nanofibers upon forceful contact with aqueous media [69]. Ni et al employed this factor within a microfluidic network to manufacture a peptide-based nanomedicine, possessing both a diagnostic attribute in the form of an imaging tool, as well as allowing target-specific delivery of APIs.…”

“…Ni et al employed this factor within a microfluidic network to manufacture a peptide-based nanomedicine, possessing both a diagnostic attribute in the form of an imaging tool, as well as allowing target-specific delivery of APIs. The presence of USP nanofibers can be detected using optical imaging probes alongside second-harmonic microscopy [69]. The benefit of using USPs in this process is that the chemical makeup of the nanofibers can be tailored to selectively target specific cells with known antigens, such as rapidly proliferating cancerous cells.…”

“…USPs come at a relatively low cost due to their size, which adds to the attractiveness of the process. Their use as a nanocarrier has been displayed to act as a controlled release formulation, allowing the delivery of curcumin to exceed 6 days, compared to the usual blood half-life of 5-10 min [69]. antigens, such as rapidly proliferating cancerous cells.…”

Supramolecular Biopolymers for Tissue Engineering

“…Interestingly, amyloid-like peptide aliphatic hydrogels maintained the pluripotency state of human embryonic stem cells and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) during culturing in the peptide scaffold for over 9 months, so far the longest reported period of time to culture sensitive human embryonic stem cells in a synthetic matrix [67]. Microfluidic technologies allow to form peptide nanoparticles for drug delivery and for the use as theranostic agents [98,99]. Last, not least, bioimaging applications are feasible when referring to the interesting optical characteristics of these ultrashort aliphatic self-assembling peptides, making use of their nonlinear second harmonic behavior [100,101].…”

“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger”: Future Applications of Amyloid Aggregates in Biomedicine

“…In an interesting recent study, Ac-LIVAGK-NH 2 (LK6), Ac-LIVAGD-NH 2 (LD6), and Ac-IVKNH 2 (IK3) ultrashort nanofibrous peptides were converted to globular nanoparticles using hydrodynamic focusing and solvent exchange in a microfluidics system. These nanoparticles were encapsulated with curcumin as a model drug then cellular uptake was observed in HeLa cells [ 203 ].…”