Tissue Distribution Studies of the Peptide‐bilayer Coated Magnetic Nanobeads and Delivery of an Adducted Peptide, to Retard Melanoma Growth, in Vivo

Self‐assembling peptides based delivery systems are gaining increased importance as they are highly biocompatible, biodegradable and tunable i.e. structure and function can be modified. Branched amphiphilic peptides (BAPs) self‐assemble to form bilayer delimited vesicles, called the Branched Amphiphilic Peptide Capsules (BAPCs), whose molecular architecture is similar to liposomes. BAPCs have been used to date to deliver encapsulated radionuclides and dsRNA and DNA electrostatically bound to the exterior of the capsules. Recently, we have synthesized magnetic nanoparticles with the BAP bilayer coating for studying their interaction with a biological system and for exploring applications in delivery. The magnetic nanoparticles are being used as quantification tools to study some aspects of the peptide bilayer interactions such as their route of uptake by cells in culture and to study their tissue distribution in mice, employing several routes of delivery. Recent in vitro studies using widely used techniques such as confocal imaging and flow cytometry alongside the quantification method using the newly developed BAP‐MNBs, demonstrate that they are readily taken up by cells in culture via more than one endocytic pathway. This study suggests that quantification using BAP‐MNBs is a reliable tool for studying BAPCs delivery system and associated molecules. Current studies involve studying the tissue distribution of BAP‐MNBs when injected intravenously in mice. The BAP‐MNBs are alongside being tested as delivery systems to deliver a therapeutic retro‐inverso D‐peptide (RD‐p9) known to retard the growth of melanoma tumors in mice. Our current studies in mice will provide insight into the fate of BAPCs in vivo, aiding future studies which aim to tailor and use BAPCs as well as BAP‐MNBs for specific applications.Support or Funding InformationPhoreus Biotechology Inc., Olathe, Kansas