Interaction Studies of the Peptide G23 with Membrane-Mimetic Systems
Abstract
The prevalence of cancers and neurodegenerative diseases in high-income countries is devastating to the healthcare system. Many curative drugs exist but cannot get to the site of diseases. Cell penetrating peptides have the ability to cross the cell membrane alone or with a cargo molecule. These could be a potential drug delivery system. Although their entry mechanism into cells remains unclear, the CPP G23 displays cell penetrating properties. Few studies have been devoted to its activity as a potential drug delivering CPP. The objective of this project is to perform a detailed analysis of the interaction between G23 and mammalian membranes and the blood-brain barrier using biophysical techniques. Prior entry mechanism studies of CPPs used a single lipid to represent a model membrane with limited success. We hypothesize that the use of advanced model membranes comprised of a mixture of lipids will provide new insights regarding the mechanism of entry of G23. The techniques utilized are Fourier Transform Infrared, fluorescence spectroscopy, and SEM. Fluorescence data show that G23 crosses the cancer and BBB model cells while remaining at the surface of the normal model cell. FTIR data reveals the peptide changes its conformation in the presence of model membranes. Infrared data shows G23 interacts with normal model cell using hydrogen bonds through N-H groups, and G23 crosses the BBB and cancer model cells using a conformation change. SEM shows G23 interacts strongly with all the three model membranes. All data techniques suggest G23 is a good drug delivery system candidate.
Subject Area
Biochemistry
Recommended Citation
Rawan N Nahas,
"Interaction Studies of the Peptide G23 with Membrane-Mimetic Systems"
(2022).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI29996315.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI29996315