Introduction: Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) offer versatile tools for the field of drug delivery and development of macromolecular therapeutics. These tools have matured into applications that allow the use of proteins, nucleic acid, peptides, imaging agents, and low molecular weight drugs as therapeutic entities. Areas covered: The progress of the field is discussed in the current review, with the examples from a recent couple of years, in the utilization of CPPs in medicine. Specific focus is on the research articles that include applications that have direct translational value. Progress with protein mimicry and its recent leap in medicine is discussed with special attention, but also achievements with nanoformulation and drug targeting is presented. Expert opinion: The opinion section discusses some of the limitations and shortcomings, proposing the areas where more effort should be invested in order to increase the translational value of the current preclinical research.
Keywords: CPP; Cell penetrating peptides; drug delivery; nanotechnology; peptidomimetics; protein mimicry.