Disconnecting the yin and yang relation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated delivery: a fully synthetic, EGFR-targeted gene transfer system avoiding receptor activation.

ABSTRACT: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is upregulated within a high percentage of solid tumors and hence is an attractive target for tumor-targeted therapies including gene therapy. The natural EGFR ligand epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been used for this purpose, despite the risk of mitogenic effects due to EGFR activation. We have developed a fully synthetic, EGFR-targeted gene delivery system based on PEGylated linear polyethylenimine (LPEI), allowing evaluation of different EGFR-binding peptides in terms of transfection efficiency and EGFR activation. Peptide sequences directly derived from the human EGF molecule enhanced transfection efficiency with concomitant EGFR activation. Only the EGFR-binding peptide GE11, which has been identified by phage display technique, showed spe

SUBMITTER: Schafer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3237691 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature