title: Clickable functionalization of liposomes with the gH625 peptide from Herpes simplex virus type I for intracellular drug delivery.
abstract: Liposomes externally modified with the nineteen residues gH625 peptide, previously identified as a membrane-perturbing domain in the gH glycoprotein of Herpes simplex virus type I, have been prepared in order to improve the intracellular uptake of an encapsulated drug. An easy and versatile synthetic strategy, based on click chemistry, has been used to bind, in a controlled way, several copies of the hydrophobic gH625 peptide on the external surface of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPG)-based liposomes. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies, on liposomes derivatized with gH625 peptides, which are modified with the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid (TOAC) spin label in several peptide positions, confirm the positioning of the coupled peptides on the liposome external surface, whereas dynamic light scattering measurements indicate an increase of the diameter of the liposomes of approximately 30% after peptide introduction. Liposomes have been loaded with the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin and their ability to penetrate inside cells has been evaluated by confocal microscopy experiments. Results suggest that liposomes functionalized with gH625 may act as promising intracellular targeting carriers for efficient delivery of drugs, such as chemotherapeutic agents, into tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, CIRPeB & IBB CNR, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tarallo
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accardo
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falanga
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitiello
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Netti
authors.forename: Gerardino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Errico
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galdiero
mesh_terms: D057930:Click Chemistry / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D010455:Peptides; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C569201:gH625 peptide, Herpes simplex virus type I