Screening of an annexin-A2-targeted heptapeptide for pancreatic adenocarcinoma localization

Insights of affinity-based probes for target identification in drug discovery

Identifying molecular targets of physiologically active organic compounds remains a major challenge in contemporary biomedical research and drug discovery. In recent years, the development of activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) techniques has proven to be superior to classical molecular target identification methods. ABPP can be classified into activity-based probes (AcBPs) and affinity-based probes (AfBPs). AfBPs bind to target proteins through reversible non-covalent interactions, thus minimizing the impact on the natural biological functions of the protein. The development of AfBPs has great potential for studying drug targets, optimizing drugs, and improving therapeutic efficacy. As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in research and development focused on affinity probes with the use of a wide range of AfBPs such as biotin probes, FITC probes, BRET probes, and radiolabeled probes. This tutorial describes the process of designing and synthesizing different types of AfBPs from biologically active compounds, and then utilizing the probes to identify the target proteins. It also provides insights for subsequent drug discovery and development.

Phage-based peptides for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment: alternative approach

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a high mortality rate and a lack of effective therapies. The challenges associated with early detection and the highly aggressive nature of pancreatic cancer have limited treatment options, underscoring the urgent need for better disease-modifying therapies. Peptide-based biotherapeutics have become an attractive area of research due to their favorable properties such as high selectivity and affinity, chemical modifiability, good tissue permeability, and easy metabolism and excretion. Phage display, a powerful technique for identifying peptides with high affinity and specificity for their target molecules, has emerged as a key tool in the discovery of peptide-based drugs. Phage display technology involves the use of bacteriophages to express peptide libraries, which are then screened against a target of interest to identify peptides with desired properties. This approach has shown great promise in cancer diagnosis and treatment, with potential applications in targeting cancer cells and developing new therapies. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of the basic biology of phage vectors, the principles of phage library construction, and various methods for binding affinity assessment. We then describe the applications of phage display in pancreatic cancer therapy, targeted drug delivery, and early detection. Despite its promising potential, there are still challenges to be addressed, such as optimizing the selection process and improving the pharmacokinetic properties of phage-based drugs. Nevertheless, phage display represents a promising approach for the development of novel targeted therapies in pancreatic cancer and other tumors.