1
|
Kumar N, Sharma AK, Guleria M, Shelar SB, Chakraborty A, Rakshit S, Kolay S, Satpati D, Das T. Nuclear Localization Signal Enhances the Targeting and Therapeutic Efficacy of a Porphyrin-Based Molecular Cargo: A Systemic In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:2351-2364. [PMID: 38477252 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01152] [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] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The objective of the present work was to evaluate the potential of a nuclear localization signal (NLS) toward facilitating intracellular delivery and enhancement in the therapeutic efficacy of the molecular cargo. Toward this, an in-house synthesized porphyrin derivative, namely, 5-carboxymethyelene-oxyphenyl-10,15,20-tris(4-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin (UTriMA), was utilized for conjugation with the NLS sequence [PKKKRKV]. The three compounds synthesized during the course of the present work, namely DOTA-Lys-NLS, DOTA-UTriMA-Lys-NLS, and DOTA-Lys-UTriMA, were evaluated for cellular toxicity in cancer cell lines (HT1080), wherein all exhibited minimal dark toxicity. However, during photocytotoxicity studies with DOTA-Lys-UTriMA and DOTA-UTriMA-Lys-NLS conjugates in the same cell line, the latter exhibited significantly higher light-dependent toxicity compared to the former. Furthermore, the photocytotoxicity for DOTA-UTriMA-Lys-NLS in a healthy cell line (WI26VA4) was found to be significantly lower than that observed in the cancer cells. Fluorescence cell imaging studies carried out in HT1080 cancer cells revealed intracellular accumulation for the NLS-conjugated porphyrin (DOTA-UTriMA-Lys-NLS), whereas unconjugated porphyrin (DOTA-Lys-UTriMA) failed to do so. To evaluate the radiotherapeutic effects of the synthesized conjugates, all three compounds were radiolabeled with 177Lu, a well-known therapeutic radionuclide with high radiochemical purity (>95%). During in vitro studies, the [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-UTriMA-Lys-NLS complex exhibited the highest cell binding as well as internalization among the three radiolabeled complexes. Biological distribution studies for the radiolabeled compounds were performed in a fibrosarcoma-bearing small animal model, wherein significantly higher accumulation and prolonged retention of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-UTriMA-Lys-NLS (9.32 ± 1.27% IA/g at 24 h p.i.) in the tumorous lesion compared to [177Lu]Lu-UTriMA-Lys-DOTA (2.3 ± 0.13% IA/g at 24 h p.i.) and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Lys-NLS complexes (0.26 ± 0.17% IA/g at 24 h p.i.) were observed. The results of the biodistribution studies were further corroborated by recording serial SPECT-CT images of fibrosarcoma-bearing Swiss mice administered with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-UTriMA-Lys-NLS at different time points. Tumor regression studies performed with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-UTriMA-Lys-NLS in the same animal model with two different doses [250 μCi (9.25 MBq) and 500 μCi (18.5 MBq)] resulted in a significant reduction in tumor mass in the treated group of animals. The above results revealed a definite enhancement in the targeting ability of molecular cargo upon conjugation with NLS and hence indicated that this strategy may be helpful for the preparation of drug-NLS conjugates as multimodal agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Kumar
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Amit K Sharma
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Mohini Guleria
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Sandeep B Shelar
- Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Avik Chakraborty
- Radiation Medicine Centre, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Parel, Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Sutapa Rakshit
- Radiation Medicine Centre, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Parel, Mumbai 400012, India
| | - Soumi Kolay
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Drishty Satpati
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Tapas Das
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Han J, Liu Y, Peng D, Liu J, Wu D. Biomedical Application of Porphyrin-Based Amphiphiles and Their Self-Assembled Nanomaterials. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:2155-2180. [PMID: 37955349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Porphyrins have been vastly explored and applied in many cutting-edge fields with plenty of encouraging achievements because of their excellent properties. As important derivatives of porphyrins, porphyrin-based amphiphiles (PBAs) not only maintain the advanced properties of porphyrins (catalysis, imaging, and energy transfer) but also possess self-assembly and encapsulation capability in aqueous solution. Accordingly, PBAs and their self-assembles have had important roles in diagnosing and treating tumors and inflammation lesions in vivo, but not limited to these. In this article, we introduce the research progress of PBAs, including their constitution, structure design strategies, and performances in tumor and inflammation lesion diagnosis and treatments. On that basis, the defects of synthesized PBAs during their application and the possible effective strategies to overcome the limitations are also proposed. Finally, perspectives on PBAs exploration are updated based on our knowledge. We hope this review will bring researchers from various domains insights about PBAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jialei Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Gongchang Road 66, Guangming, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Yadong Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Gongchang Road 66, Guangming, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Danfeng Peng
- Shenzhen International Institute for Biomedical Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518119, China
| | - Jie Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Gongchang Road 66, Guangming, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Dalin Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Gongchang Road 66, Guangming, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Blades R, Ittner LM, Tietz O. Peptides for trans-blood-brain barrier delivery. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2023; 66:237-248. [PMID: 37002811 PMCID: PMC10952576 DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.4023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Trans-blood-brain barrier (BBB) delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents is a major challenge in the development of central nervous system (CNS) targeted radiopharmaceuticals. This review is an introduction to the use of peptides as delivery agents to transport cargos into the CNS. The most widely used BBB-penetrating peptides are reviewed here, with a particular emphasis on the broad range of cargos delivered into the CNS using these. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been deployed as trans-BBB delivery agents for some time; new developments in the CPP field offer exciting opportunities for the design of next generation trans-BBB complexes. Many of the peptides highlighted here are ready to be combined with diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals to develop highly effective CNS-targeted agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reuben Blades
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Lars M. Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Ole Tietz
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xu P, Yuan L, Wang K, Pan B, Ye Y, Lu K. Interaction of bifunctional peptide-carbazole complexes with DNA and antimicrobial activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 237:124070. [PMID: 36940762 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Two peptide-carbazole conjugates, CTAT and CNLS, were designed and synthesized using carbazole Schiff base to modify the cell membrane penetrating peptide TAT (47-57) and the nuclear localization peptide NLS at the N terminus. The interaction with ctDNA was investigated by multispectral and agarose gel electrophoresis. And the effects of CNLS and CTAT on the G-quadruplex structure were explored by circular dichroism titration experiments. The results show that both CTAT and CNLS interact with ctDNA in a minor groove binding manner. Both conjugates bind more tightly to DNA than the individual substances CIBA, TAT and NLS. In addition, CTAT and CNLS are capable of unfolding parallel G-quadruplex structures and are potential G-quadruplex unfolding agents. Finally, broth microdilution was performed to test the antimicrobial activity of the peptides. The results showed that CTAT and CNLS had a 4-fold increase in antimicrobial activity compared with the parent peptides TAT and NLS. They could exert antimicrobial activity by disrupting the integrity of cell membrane bilayer and binding to DNA, and could be used as novel antimicrobial peptides for the development of novel antimicrobial antibiotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Xu
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Libo Yuan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Ke Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Boyuan Pan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yong Ye
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Kui Lu
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; School of Chemical Engineering and Food Science, Zhengzhou University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450044, China.
| |
Collapse
|