title: Cell adhesion molecules for targeted drug delivery.
abstract: Rapid advancement of the understanding of the structure and function of cell adhesion molecules (i.e., integrins, cadherins) has impacted the design and development of drugs (i.e., peptide, proteins) with the potential to treat cancer and heart and autoimmune diseases. For example, RGD peptides/peptidomimetics have been marketed as anti-thrombic agents and are being investigated for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Other cell adhesion peptides derived from ICAM-1 and LFA-1 sequences were found to block T-cell adhesion to vascular endothelial cells and epithelial cells; these peptides are being investigated for treating autoimmune diseases. Recent findings suggest that cell adhesion receptors such as integrins can internalize their peptide ligands into the intracellular space. Thus, many cell adhesion peptides (i.e., RGD peptide) were used to target drugs, particles, and diagnostic agents to a specific cell that has increased expression of cell adhesion receptors. This review is focused on the utilization of cell adhesion peptides and receptors in specific targeted drug delivery, diagnostics, and tissue engineering. In the future, more information on the mechanism of internalization and intracellular trafficking of cell adhesion molecules will be exploited for delivering drug molecules to a specific type of cell or for diagnosis of cancer and heart and autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Simons Research Laboratories, 2095 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, USA.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dunehoo
authors.forename: Meagan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majumdar
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Cory
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berkland
authors.forename: Teruna J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Siahaan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016023:Integrins