1
|
Vojnikova M, Sukupova M, Stefanik M, Strakova P, Haviernik J, Kapolkova K, Gruberova E, Raskova K, Michalkova H, Svec P, Kudlickova MP, Huvarova I, Ruzek D, Salat J, Pekarik V, Eyer L, Heger Z. Nanoformulation of the Broad-Spectrum Hydrophobic Antiviral Vacuolar ATPase Inhibitor Diphyllin in Human Recombinant H-ferritin. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:3907-3917. [PMID: 38708183 PMCID: PMC11069354 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s452119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background As highlighted by recent pandemic outbreaks, antiviral drugs are crucial resources in the global battle against viral diseases. Unfortunately, most antiviral drugs are characterized by a plethora of side effects and low efficiency/poor bioavailability owing to their insolubility. This also applies to the arylnaphthalide lignin family member, diphyllin (Diph). Diph acts as a vacuolar ATPase inhibitor and has been previously identified as a promising candidate with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. However, its physicochemical properties preclude its efficient administration in vivo, complicating preclinical testing. Methods We produced human recombinant H- ferritin (HsaFtH) and used it as a delivery vehicle for Diph encapsulation through pH-mediated reversible reassembly of HsaFtH. Diph nanoformulation was subsequently thoroughly characterized and tested for its non-target cytotoxicity and antiviral efficiency using a panel of pathogenic viral strain. Results We revealed that loading into HsaFtH decreased the undesired cytotoxicity of Diph in mammalian host cells. We also confirmed that encapsulated Diph exhibited slightly lower antiviral activity than free Diph, which may be due to the differential uptake mechanism and kinetics of free Diph and Diph@HsaFtH. Furthermore, we confirmed that the antiviral effect was mediated solely by Diph with no contribution from HsaFtH. Conclusion It was confirmed that HsaFtH is a suitable vehicle that allows easy loading of Diph and production of highly homogeneous nanoparticles dispersion with promising broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Vojnikova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Sukupova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Stefanik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Strakova
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Haviernik
- Department of infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Kapolkova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eliska Gruberova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Klara Raskova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Michalkova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Svec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Ivana Huvarova
- Department of infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Ruzek
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Salat
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Pekarik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Eyer
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Heger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen H, Zhang Q. Polypeptides as alternatives to PEGylation of therapeutic agents. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2024; 21:1-12. [PMID: 38116624 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2297937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Due to the concerns raised by the extensive application of PEGylation, polypeptides have stood out as excellent candidates with adequate biocompatibility and biodegradability with tunable hydrophilicity. AREAS COVERED In this review, polypeptides with the potential to replace PEGylation have been summarized and their application has been reviewed, including XTEN, PASylation, polysarcosine, zwitterion polypeptides, ELPylation, etc. Besides their strengths, the remaining challenges have also been discussed and the future perspectives have been provided. EXPERT OPINION Polypeptides have been applied in the designing of peptide/protein drugs as well as nanomedicines, and some of the pharmaceutics have made it into the clinical trials and got approved. These polypeptides showed similar hydrophilic properties to PEGylation, which increased the hydrodynamic volumes of protein drugs, reduced kidney elimination, decreased protein-polymer interaction and potentially improved the drug delivery efficiency due to the extended circulation time in the system. Moreover, they demonstrated superior biodegradability and biocompatibility, compensating for the deficiencies for polymers such as PEG.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huali Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qianyu Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ji Y, Liu D, Zhu H, Bao L, Chang R, Gao X, Yin J. Unstructured Polypeptides as a Versatile Drug Delivery Technology. Acta Biomater 2023; 164:74-93. [PMID: 37075961 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Although polyethylene glycol (PEG), or "PEGylation" has become a widely applied approach for improving the efficiency of drug delivery, the immunogenicity and non-biodegradability of this synthetic polymer have prompted an evident need for alternatives. To overcome these caveats and to mimic PEG -or other natural or synthetic polymers- for the purpose of drug half-life extension, unstructured polypeptides are designed. Due to their tunable length, biodegradability, low immunogenicity and easy production, unstructured polypeptides have the potential to replace PEG as the preferred technology for therapeutic protein/peptide delivery. This review provides an overview of the evolution of unstructured polypeptides, starting from natural polypeptides to engineered polypeptides and discusses their characteristics. Then, it is described that unstructured polypeptides have been successfully applied to numerous drugs, including peptides, proteins, antibody fragments, and nanocarriers, for half-life extension. Innovative applications of unstructured peptides as releasable masks, multimolecular adaptors and intracellular delivery carriers are also discussed. Finally, challenges and future perspectives of this promising field are briefly presented. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : Polypeptide fusion technology simulating PEGylation has become an important topic for the development of long-circulating peptide or protein drugs without reduced activity, complex processes, and kidney injury caused by PEG modification. Here we provide a detailed and in-depth review of the recent advances in unstructured polypeptides. In addition to the application of enhanced pharmacokinetic performance, emphasis is placed on polypeptides as scaffolders for the delivery of multiple drugs, and on the preparation of reasonably designed polypeptides to manipulate the performance of proteins and peptides. This review will provide insight into future application of polypeptides in peptide or protein drug development and the design of novel functional polypeptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Dingkang Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Haichao Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lichen Bao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ruilong Chang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiangdong Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Jun Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| |
Collapse
|