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Yin R, Wan P, Guo Z, Yi X, Zhang P, Shen W, Chen L, Xiao C, Chen X. Enzyme-Responsive Oncolytic Polypeptide for Tumor Therapy. Acta Biomater 2024:S1742-7061(24)00227-7. [PMID: 38704115 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.04.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Host defense peptide-mimicking cationic oncolytic polymers have attracted increasing attention for cancer treatment in recent years. However, polymers with large amounts of positive charge may cause rapid clearance and severe off-target toxicity. To facilitate in vivo application, an alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-responsive oncolytic polypeptide precursor (C12-PLL/PA) has been reported in this work. C12-PLL/PA could be hydrolyzed into the active form of the oncolytic polypeptide (C12-PLL) by the extracellular alkaline phosphatase within solid tumors, thereby resulting in the conversion of the negative charge to positive charge and restoring its membrane-lytic activity. Detailed mechanistic studies showed that C12-PLL/PA could effectively destroy cancer cell membranes and subsequently result in rapid necrosis of cancer cells. More importantly, C12-PLL/PA significantly inhibited the tumor growth in the 4T1 orthotopic breast tumor model with negligible side effects. In summary, these findings demonstrated that the shielding of the amino groups with phosphate groups represents a secure and effective strategy to develop cationic oncolytic polypeptide, which represents a valuable reference for the design of enzyme-activated oncolytic polymers. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Recently, there has been a growing interest in fabricating host defense peptide-mimicking cationic oncolytic polymers for cancer therapy. However, there remain concerns about the tumor selectivity and off-target toxicity of these cationic polymers. In this study, an alkaline phosphatase-responsive oncolytic polypeptide precursor (C12-PLL/PA) has been developed to selectively target cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that C12-PLL/PA effectively disrupted cancer cell membranes, leading to rapid necrosis. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed promising anticancer activity and reliable safety of C12-PLL/PA. The findings suggest that this synthetic enzyme-responsive polypeptide holds potential as a tumor-specific oncolytic polymer, paving the way for future applications in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renyong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China
| | - Penqi Wan
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Zhihui Guo
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China
| | - Xuan Yi
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Wei Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, P. R. China.
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, P. R. China
| | - Chunsheng Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China; Jilin Biomedical Polymers Engineering Laboratory, Changchun 130022, P. R. China.
| | - Xuesi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China; Jilin Biomedical Polymers Engineering Laboratory, Changchun 130022, P. R. China.
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Li F, Xu B, Lu Z, Chen J, Fu Y, Huang J, Wang Y, Li X. Hollow CoFe Nanozymes Integrated with Oncolytic Peptides Designed via Machine-Learning for Tumor Therapy. Small 2024:e2311101. [PMID: 38234132 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Developing novel substances to synergize with nanozymes is a challenging yet indispensable task to enable the nanozyme-based therapeutics to tackle individual variations in tumor physicochemical properties. The advancement of machine learning (ML) has provided a useful tool to enhance the accuracy and efficiency in developing synergistic substances. In this study, ML models to mine low-cytotoxicity oncolytic peptides are applied. The filtering Pipeline is constructed using a traversal design and the Autogluon framework. Through the Pipeline, 37 novel peptides with high oncolytic activity against cancer cells and low cytotoxicity to normal cells are identified from a library of 25,740 sequences. Combining dataset testing with cytotoxicity experiments, an 80% accuracy rate is achieved, verifying the reliability of ML predictions. Peptide C2 is proven to possess membranolytic functions specifically for tumor cells as targeted by Pipeline. Then Peptide C2 with CoFe hollow hydroxide nanozyme (H-CF) to form the peptide/H-CF composite is integrated. The new composite exhibited acid-triggered membranolytic function and potent peroxidase-like (POD-like) activity, which induce ferroptosis to tumor cells and inhibits tumor growth. The study suggests that this novel ML-assisted design approach can offer an accurate and efficient paradigm for developing both oncolytic peptides and synergistic peptides for catalytic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Bocheng Xu
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
- Institute of Feed Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zijie Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Jiafei Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Yike Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Yizhen Wang
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
- Institute of Feed Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China
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Yin H, Chen XT, Chi QN, Ma YN, Fu XY, Du SS, Qi YK, Wang KW. The hybrid oncolytic peptide NTP-385 potently inhibits adherent cancer cells by targeting the nucleus. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:201-210. [PMID: 35794372 PMCID: PMC9813345 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00939-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of oncolytic peptides with activity against a wide range of cancer entities as a new and promising cancer therapeutic strategy has drawn increasing attention. The oncolytic peptide LTX-315 derived from bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB) was found to be highly effective against suspension cancer cells, but not adherent cancer cells. In this study, we tactically fused LTX-315 with rhodamine B through a hybridization strategy to design and synthesize a series of nucleus-targeting hybrid peptides and evaluated their activity against adherent cancer cells. Thus, four hybrid peptides, NTP-212, NTP-217, NTP-223 and NTP-385, were synthesized. These hybrid peptides enhanced the anticancer activity of LTX-315 in a panel of adherent cancer cell lines by 2.4- to 37.5-fold. In model mice bearing B16-F10 melanoma xenografts, injection of NTP-385 (0.5 mg per mouse for 3 consecutive days) induced almost complete regression of melanoma, prolonged the median survival time and increased the overall survival. Notably, the administered dose of NTP-385 was only half the effective dose of LTX-315. We further revealed that unlike LTX-315, which targets the mitochondria, NTP-385 disrupted the nuclear membrane and accumulated in the nucleus, resulting in the transfer of a substantial amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus through the fragmented nuclear membrane. This ultimately led to DNA double-strand break (DSB)-mediated intrinsic apoptosis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that hybrid peptides obtained from the fusion of LTX-315 and rhodamine B enhance anti-adherent cancer cell activity by targeting the nucleus and triggering DNA DSB-mediated intrinsic apoptosis. This study also provides an advantageous reference for nucleus-targeting peptide modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao, 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao, 266021, China
| | - Xi-Tong Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao, 266073, China
| | - Qiao-Na Chi
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Yan-Nan Ma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao, 266073, China
| | - Xing-Yan Fu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao, 266073, China
| | - Shan-Shan Du
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China.
| | - Yun-Kun Qi
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao, 266021, China.
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao, 266073, China.
| | - Ke-Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao, 266073, China.
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao, 266021, China.
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