Use of anticancer peptides as an alternative approach for targeted therapy in breast cancer: a review

Targeted cancer treatment using folate-conjugated sponge-like ZIF-8 nanoparticles: a review

ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework-8) is a potential drug delivery system because of its unique properties, which include a large surface area, a large pore capacity, a large loading capacity, and outstanding stability under physiological conditions. ZIF-8 nanoparticles may be readily functionalized with targeting ligands for the identification and absorption of particular cancer cells, enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic medicines and reducing adverse effects. ZIF-8 is also pH-responsive, allowing medication release in the acidic milieu of cancer cells. Because of its tunable structure, it can be easily functionalized to design cancer-specific targeted medicines. The delivery of ZIF-8 to cancer cells can be facilitated by folic acid-conjugation. Hence, it can bind to overexpressed folate receptors on the surface of cancer cells, which holds the promise of reducing unwanted deliveries. As a result of its importance in cancer treatment, the folate-conjugated ZIF-8 was the major focus of this review.

Peptide-containing nanoformulations: Skin barrier penetration and activity contribution

Transdermal drug delivery presents a less invasive pathway, circumventing the need to pass through the gastrointestinal tract and liver, thereby reducing drug breakdown, initial metabolism, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Nevertheless, the unique composition and dense structure of the stratum corneum present a significant barrier to transdermal delivery. This article presents an overview of the current developments in peptides and nanotechnology to address this challenge. Initially, we sum up peptide-containing nanoformulations for transdermal drug delivery, examining them through the lenses of both inorganic and organic materials. Particular emphasis is placed on the diverse roles that peptides play within these nanoformulations, including conferring functionality upon nanocarriers and enhancing the biological efficacy of drugs. Subsequently, we summarize innovative strategies for enhancing skin penetration, categorizing them into passive and active approaches. Lastly, we discuss the therapeutic potential of peptide-containing nanoformulations in addressing a range of diseases, drawing insights from the biological activities and functions of peptides. Furthermore, the challenges hindering clinical translation are also discussed, providing valuable insights for future advancements in transdermal drug delivery.

Shifting archetype to nature's hidden gems: from sources, purification to uncover the nutritional potential of bioactive peptides

Contemporary scientific findings revealed that our daily food stuffs are enriched by encrypted bioactive peptides (BPs), evolved by peptide linkage of amino acids or encrypted from the native protein structures. Remarkable to these BPs lies in their potential health benefiting biological activities to serve as nutraceuticals or a lead addition to the development of functional foods. The biological activities of BPs vary depending on the sequence as well as amino acid composition. Existing database records approximately 3000 peptide sequences which possess potential biological activities such as antioxidants, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, anti-adipogenics, anti-microbials, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancerous. The growing evidences suggest that BPs have very low toxicity, higher accuracy, less tissue accretion, and are easily degraded in the disposed environment. BPs are nowadays evolved as biologically active molecules with potential scope to reduce microbial contamination as well as ward off oxidation of foods, amend diverse range of human diseases to enhance the overall quality of human life. Against the clinical and health perspectives of BPs, this review aimed to elaborate current evolution of nutritional potential of BPs, studies pertaining to overcome limitations with respect to special focus on emerging extraction, protection and delivery tools of BPs. In addition, the nano-delivery mechanism of BP and its clinical significance is detailed. The aim of current review is to augment the research in the field of BPs production, identification, characterisation and to speed up the investigation of the incredible potentials of BPs as potential nutritional and functional food ingredient.

Anti-cancer peptides: their current trends in the development of peptide-based therapy and anti-tumor drugs

Human cancer remains a cause of high mortality throughout the world. The conventional methods and therapies currently employed for treatment are followed by moderate-to-severe side effects. They have not generated curative results due to the ineffectiveness of treatments. Besides, the associated high costs, technical requirements, and cytotoxicity further characterize their limitations. Due to relatively higher presidencies, bioactive peptides with anti-cancer attributes have recently become treatment choices within the therapeutic arsenal. The peptides act as potential anti-cancer agents explicitly targeting tumor cells while being less toxic to normal cells. The anti-cancer peptides are isolated from various natural sources, exhibit high selectivity and high penetration efficiency, and could be quickly restructured. The therapeutic benefits of compatible anti-cancer peptides have contributed to the significant expansion of cancer treatment; albeit, the mechanisms by which bioactive peptides inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells remain unclear. This review will provide a framework for assessing anti-cancer peptides' structural and functional aspects. It shall provide appropriate information on their mode of action to support and strengthen efforts to improve cancer prevention. The article will mention the therapeutic health benefits of anti-cancer peptides. Their importance in clinical studies is elaborated for reducing cancer incidences and developing sustainable treatment models.

Bioactive cationic peptides as potential agents for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer continues to affect millions of women worldwide, and the number of new cases dramatically increases every year. The physiological causes behind the disease are still not fully understood. One in every 100 cases can occur in men, and although the frequency is lower than among women, men tend to have a worse prognosis of the disease. Various therapeutic alternatives to combat the disease are available. These depend on the type and progress of the disease, and include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and cancer immunotherapy. However, there are several well-reported side effects of these treatments that have a significant impact on life quality, and patients either relapse or are refractory to treatment. This makes it necessary to develop new therapeutic strategies. One promising initiative are bioactive peptides, which have emerged in recent years as a family of compounds with an enormous number of clinical applications due to their broad spectrum of activity. They are widely distributed in several organisms as part of their immune system. The antitumoral activity of these peptides lies in a nonspecific mechanism of action associated with their interaction with cancer cell membranes, inducing, through several routes, bilayer destabilization and cell death. This review provides an overview of the literature on the evaluation of cationic peptides as potential agents against breast cancer under different study phases. First, physicochemical characteristics such as the primary structure and charge are presented. Secondly, information about dosage, the experimental model used, and the mechanism of action proposed for the peptides are discussed.

[Effects of Pigment Epithelium-derived Factor and Its Peptides on Proliferation, Apoptosis and Migration of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer]

BACKGROUND

The anti-tumor effect of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) has been widely confirmed. However, the anti-tumor effect of its peptides is rarely reported. This study aims to investigate the effects of PEDF and its peptides on the apoptosis and migration of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

In this study, A549 cells and H1299 cells were selected as the research object, and the cells were divided into normal group, PEDF treatment group, 34 peptide treatment group, 44 peptide treatment group and 34+44 peptide treatment group by administering different drugs at the same concentration to the cells. The proliferation activity of cells in each group was detected by CCK-8 method; the migration ability of cells was detected by scratch test; the expression levels of apoptosis related proteins such as protein kinase 3 (RIP3) and cleaved-caspase-3 were detected by Western blot; the expression levels of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in each group, such as cadherin (E-cadherin) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by Western blot; the apoptosis rate of each group was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The results of CCK-8 showed that PEDF and its peptides could inhibit cell proliferation, and the inhibitory effect of 34+44 peptide was the strongest (P<0.05); Observation under the microscope found that PEDF and its peptides can inhibit the proliferation and mesenchymal transformation of A549 cells and H1299 cells, and the inhibitory effect of the 34+44 peptide group is the most obvious; Western blot indicated that compared with other groups, the expressions of cleaved-caspase-3 and RIP3 in 34+44 peptide group were significantly higher (P<0.05), and the expressions of EMT protein E-cadherin were higher, the expression of α-SMA decreased (P<0.05); The results of flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of 34+44 peptide group was significantly higher than those of other groups (P<0.05); The scratch test showed that compared with all the other groups, the healing rate of 34+44 peptide group was the lowest (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

34+44 combination peptide can better promote the apoptosis of NSCLC, inhibit the migration of NSCLC, and thereby inhibit the growth of NSCLC.

LyeTx I-b Peptide Attenuates Tumor Burden and Metastasis in a Mouse 4T1 Breast Cancer Model

Cationic anticancer peptides have exhibited potent anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects in neoplastic illness conditions. LyeTx I-b is a synthetic peptide derived from Lycosa erythrognatha spider venom that previously showed antibiotic activity in vitro and in vivo. This study focused on the effects of LyeTxI-b on a 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma model. Mice with a palpable tumor in the left flank were subcutaneously or intratumorally injected with LyeTx I-b (5 mg/kg), which significantly decreased the tumor volume and metastatic nodules. Histological analyses showed a large necrotic area in treated primary tumors compared to the control. LyeTxI-b reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis in the 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma model with no signs of toxicity in healthy or cancerous mice. The mechanism of action of LyeTx I-b on the 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma model was evaluated in vitro and is associated with induction of apoptosis and cell proliferation inhibition. Furthermore, LyeTx I-b seems to be an efficient regulator of the 4T1 tumor microenvironment by modulating several cytokines, such as TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10, in primary tumor and lung, spleen, and brain. LyeTx I-b also plays a role in leukocytes rolling and adhesion into spinal cord microcirculation and in the number of circulating leukocytes. These data suggest a potent antineoplastic efficacy ofLyeTx I-b.