The effect of self-assembling peptide RADA16-I on the growth of human leukemia cells in vitro and in nude mice

Int J Mol Sci. 2009 May 14;10(5):2136-2145. doi: 10.3390/ijms10052136.

Abstract

Nanofiber scaffolds formed by self-assembling peptide RADA16-I have been used for the study of cell proliferation to mimic an extracellular matrix. In this study, we investigated the effect of RADA16-I on the growth of human leukemia cells in vitro and in nude mice. Self-assembly assessment showed that RADA16-I molecules have excellent self-assembling ability to form stable nanofibers. MTT assay displayed that RADA16-I has no cytotoxicity for leukemia cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. However, RADA16-I inhibited the growth of K562 tumors in nude mice. Furthermore, we found RADA16-I inhibited vascular tube-formation by HUVECs in vitro. Our data suggested that nanofiber scaffolds formed by RADA16-I could change tumor microenvironments, and inhibit the growth of tumors. The study helps to encourage further design of self-assembling systems for cancer therapy.

Keywords: cancer therapy; mimic extracellular matrix; nanofiber scaffolds; self-assembling peptide RADA16-I; tumor microenvironments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects*
  • Heterografts
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Leukemia
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Nanofibers
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Peptides / toxicity
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • RADA16-I