title: Synthesis and characterization of stable fluorocarbon nanostructures as drug delivery vehicles for cytolytic peptides.
abstract: The therapeutic potential of cytolytic peptides is plagued by nonspecificity and enzymatic degradation. We report the first stable incorporation of melittin (a 26 amino acid amphipathic peptide) into an outer lipid monolayer of perfluorocarbon nanoparticles. Melittin binds avidly to the nanoparticles (dissociation constant approximately 3.27 nM) and retains its pore-forming activity after contact-mediated delivery to model bilayer membrane (liposomes) thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of perfluorocarbon nanoparticles as unique nanocarriers for cytolytic peptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MI 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Neelesh R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Soman
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Heuser
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Schlesinger
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wickline
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005453:Fluorescence; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D008555:Melitten / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D049329:Nanostructures
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D008555:Melitten