The structure and configuration changes of multifunctional peptide vectors enhance gene delivery efficiency.

ABSTRACT: We designed a series of peptide vectors that contain functional fragments with the goal of enhancing cellular internalization and gene transfection efficiency. The functional fragments included a cell-penetrating peptide (R₉), a cationic amphiphilic α-helical peptide [(LLKK)₃-H₆ or (LLHH)₃], a stearyl moiety, and cysteine residues. Vectors were also synthesized with D-type amino acids to improve their proteolytic stability. The conformations, particle sizes, and zeta potentials for complexes of these peptides with pGL3 plasmid DNA were characterized by circular dichroism and dynamic light scattering. In addition, cellular uptake of the peptide/DNA complexes and gene transfection efficiency were investigated with fluorescence-activated cell sortin

SUBMITTER: Yang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9084241 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature