Molecular level precision and high molecular weight peptide dendrimers for drug-specific delivery

J Mater Chem B. 2021 Oct 27;9(41):8594-8603. doi: 10.1039/d1tb01157j.

Abstract

Peptide dendrimers have a broad application in biomedical science due to their biocompatibility, diversity, and multifunctionality, but the precision synthesis of high-molecule weight peptide dendrimers remains challenging. We here report the facile and liquid-phase synthesis of molecular level precision and amino-acid built-in polylysine (PLL) dendrimers with molecular weights as high as ∼60 kDa. Three types of polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS)-cored PLL dendrimers with phenylalanine, tyrosine, or histidine as building blocks were synthesized. The precise structures of the dendrimers were confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS, GPC, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The interior functionalized peptide dendrimers improved the encapsulation capability of SN38 and sustained the release profiles. Enhanced molecular interactions between the peptide dendrimers and drugs were explored by both NMR experiments and computer simulations. The peptide dendrimer/SN38 formulations showed potent antitumor activity against multiple cancer cell lines. We believe that this strategy can be applied to the synthesis of tailor-made functional peptide dendrimers for drug-specific delivery and other diverse biomedical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Amino Acids / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dendrimers / chemistry*
  • Dendrimers / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacology
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan / chemistry
  • Irinotecan / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Molecular Weight
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Polylysine / chemical synthesis
  • Polylysine / chemistry*
  • Polylysine / pharmacology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Dendrimers
  • Drug Carriers
  • Peptides
  • Polylysine
  • Irinotecan