title: Self-assembly of cytotoxic peptide amphiphiles into supramolecular membranes for cancer therapy.
abstract: Peptide amphiphiles (PAs) provide a versatile platform for the design of complex and functional material constructs for biomedical applications. The hierarchical self-assembly of PAs with biopolymers is used to create robust hybrid membranes with molecular order on the micron scale. Fabrication of membranes by assembling hyaluronic acid with positively charged PA nanostructures containing anti-cancer PAs bearing a (KLAKLAK)(2)  peptide sequence is reported here. Changes in membrane microstructure as the positively charged PA nanostructures vary from cylindrical nanofibers to spherical aggregates are characterized. Results indicate that formation of highly aligned fibrous membranes requires a threshold concentration of nanofibers in solution. Additionally, variation of PA nanostructure morphology from spherical aggregates to cylindrical nanofibers allows membranes to act either as reservoirs for sustained release of cytotoxicity upon enzymatic degradation or as membranes with surface-bound cytotoxicity, respectively. Thus, the self-assembly processes of these PA-biopolymer membranes can be potentially used to design delivery platforms for anti-cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors.forename: R Helen
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Zha
authors.forename: Shantanu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sur
authors.forename: Samuel I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Stupp
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D001665:Binding Sites; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D054697:Cytostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054697:Cytostatic Agents; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010455:Peptides