Complementary hydrogen bonding interaction triggered co-assembly of an amphiphilic peptide and an anti-tumor drug

Chem Commun (Camb). 2015 Apr 25;51(32):6936-9. doi: 10.1039/c5cc00501a. Epub 2015 Mar 23.

Abstract

We report a new tumor-targeting amphiphilic peptide that can form complementary hydrogen bonds with anti-tumor drug methotrexate (MTX), leading to reversible self-assembled morphology transition from loose micelles to densely packed nanorods or nanofibers. The MTX loaded nanorods can target tumor cells and show more than 2-fold higher cytotoxicity (IC50 = 0.38 mg L(-1)) than that towards normal cells (IC50 = 0.89 mg L(-1)).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions*
  • Methotrexate / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanofibers / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Peptides
  • Methotrexate