scholarly journals Improved Tumor-Targeting with Peptidomimetic Analogs of Minigastrin 177Lu-PP-F11N

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2629
Author(s):  
Nathalie M. Grob ◽  
Roger Schibli ◽  
Martin Béhé ◽  
Thomas L. Mindt

The cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK2R) is an attractive target in nuclear medicine due to its overexpression by different tumors. Several radiolabeled peptidic ligands targeting the CCK2R have been investigated in the past; however, their low stability against proteases can limit their uptake in tumors and metastases. Substitution of single or multiple amide bonds with metabolically stable 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles as amide bond bioisosteres proved a promising strategy for improving the tumor-targeting properties of a truncated analog of minigastrin. In this study, we applied the previously studied structural modifications to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of PP-F11N, a minigastrin analog currently in clinical trials. Novel minigastrins (NMGs) as analogs of PP-F11N with one or two amide bonds substituted by 1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized, radiolabeled with 177Lu3+, and subjected to full evaluation in vitro (cell internalization, receptor affinity, stability in blood plasma) and in vivo (stability, biodistribution, SPECT/CT imaging). NMGs with triazoles inserted between the amino acids DGlu10-Ala11 and/or Tyr12-Gly13 showed a significantly increased cellular uptake and affinity toward the CCK2R in vitro. Resistance against the metabolic degradation of the NMGs was comparable to those of the clinical candidate PP-F11N. Imaging by SPECT/CT and biodistribution studies demonstrated a higher uptake in CCK2R-positive tumors but also in the CCK2R-positive stomach. The peptidomimetic compounds showed a slow tumor washout and high tumor-to-kidney ratios. The structural modifications led to the identification of analogs with promising properties for progression to clinical applications in the diagnosis and therapy of CCK2R-positive neoplasms.

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 2680
Author(s):  
Carolina Giammei ◽  
Theresa Balber ◽  
Katarina Benčurová ◽  
Jens Cardinale ◽  
Neydher Berroterán-Infante ◽  
...  

The organometallic technetium-99m tricarbonyl core, [99mTc][Tc(CO)3(H2O)3]+, is a versatile precursor for the development of radiotracers for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A drawback of the 99mTc-tricarbonyl core is its lipophilicity, which can influence the pharmacokinetic properties of the SPECT imaging probe. Addition of polar pharmacological modifiers to 99mTc-tricarbonyl conjugates holds the promise to counteract this effect and provide tumor-targeting radiopharmaceuticals with improved hydrophilicities, e.g., resulting in a favorable fast renal excretion in vivo. We applied the “Click-to-Chelate” strategy for the assembly of a novel 99mTc-tricarbonyl labeled conjugate made of the tumor-targeting, modified bombesin binding sequence [Nle14]BBN(7–14) and the carbohydrate sorbitol as a polar modifier. The 99mTc-radiopeptide was evaluated in vitro with PC-3 cells and in Fox-1nu mice bearing PC-3 xenografts including a direct comparison with a reference conjugate lacking the sorbitol moiety. The glycated 99mTc-tricarbonyl peptide conjugate exhibited an increased hydrophilicity as well as a retained affinity toward the Gastrin releasing peptide receptor and cell internalization properties. However, there was no significant difference in vivo in terms of pharmacokinetic properties. In particular, the rate and route of excretion was unaltered in comparison to the more lipophilic reference compound. This could be attributed to the intrinsic properties of the peptide and/or its metabolites. We report a novel glycated (sorbitol-containing) alkyne substrate for the “Click-to-Chelate” methodology, which is potentially of general applicability for the development of 99mTc-tricarbonyl based radiotracers displaying an enhanced hydrophilicity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 950-960
Author(s):  
Soghra Farzipour ◽  
Seyed Jalal Hosseinimehr

Tumor-targeting peptides have been generally developed for the overexpression of tumor specific receptors in cancer cells. The use of specific radiolabeled peptide allows tumor visualization by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) tools. The high affinity and specific binding of radiolabeled peptide are focusing on tumoral receptors. The character of the peptide itself, in particular, its complex molecular structure and behaviors influence on its specific interaction with receptors which are overexpressed in tumor. This review summarizes various strategies which are applied for the expansion of radiolabeled peptides for tumor targeting based on in vitro and in vivo specific tumor data and then their data were compared to find any correlation between these experiments. With a careful look at previous studies, it can be found that in vitro unblock-block ratio was unable to correlate the tumor to muscle ratio and the success of radiolabeled peptide for in vivo tumor targeting. The introduction of modifiers’ approaches, nature of peptides, and type of chelators and co-ligands have mixed effect on the in vitro and in vivo specificity of radiolabeled peptides.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1289-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kusum Vats ◽  
Rohit Sharma ◽  
Haladhar D. Sarma ◽  
Drishty Satpati ◽  
Ashutosh Dash

Aims: The urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptors (uPAR) over-expressed on tumor cells and their invasive microenvironment are clinically significant molecular targets for cancer research. uPARexpressing cancerous lesions can be suitably identified and their progression can be monitored with radiolabeled uPAR targeted imaging probes. Hence this study aimed at preparing and evaluating two 68Ga-labeled AE105 peptide conjugates, 68Ga-NODAGA-AE105 and 68Ga-HBED-CC-AE105 as uPAR PET-probes. Method: The peptide conjugates, HBED-CC-AE105-NH2 and NODAGA-AE105-NH2 were manually synthesized by standard Fmoc solid phase strategy and subsequently radiolabeled with 68Ga eluted from a commercial 68Ge/68Ga generator. In vitro cell studies for the two radiotracers were performed with uPAR positive U87MG cells. Biodistribution studies were carried out in mouse xenografts with the subcutaneously induced U87MG tumor. Results: The two radiotracers, 68Ga-NODAGA-AE105 and 68Ga-HBED-CC-AE105 that were prepared in >95% radiochemical yield and >96% radiochemical purity, exhibited excellent in vitro stability. In vivo evaluation studies revealed higher uptake of 68Ga-HBED-CC-AE105 in U87MG tumor as compared to 68Ga-NODAGAAE105; however, increased lipophilicity of 68Ga-HBED-CC-AE105 resulted in slower clearance from blood and other non-target organs. The uPAR specificity of the two radiotracers was ascertained by significant (p<0.05) reduction in the tumor uptake with a co-injected blocking dose of unlabeled AE-105 peptide. Conclusion: Amongst the two radiotracers studied, the neutral 68Ga-NODAGA-AE105 with more hydrophilic chelator exhibited faster clearance from non-target organs. The conjugation of HBED-CC chelator (less hydrophilic) resulted in negatively charged 68Ga-HBED-CC-AE105 which was observed to have high retention in blood that decreased target to non-target ratios.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaqiang Wang ◽  
Chien-shan Cheng ◽  
Yan Lu ◽  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
Minmin Zhu ◽  
...  

Background: Propofol, a widely used intravenous anesthetic agent, is traditionally applied for sedation and general anesthesia. Explanation: Recent attention has been drawn to explore the effect and mechanisms of propofol against cancer progression in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, the proliferation-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing properties of propofol in cancer have been studied. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Conclusion: This review focused on the findings within the past ten years and aimed to provide a general overview of propofol's malignance-modulating properties and the potential molecular mechanisms.


Lab on a Chip ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 795-820
Author(s):  
Andrea Spanu ◽  
Laura Martines ◽  
Annalisa Bonfiglio

This review focuses on the applications of organic transistors in cellular interfacing. It offers a comprehensive retrospective of the past, an overview of the latest innovations, and a glance on the future perspectives of this fast-evolving field.


Author(s):  
Naresh Damuka ◽  
Miranda Orr ◽  
Paul W. Czoty ◽  
Jeffrey L. Weiner ◽  
Thomas J. Martin ◽  
...  

AbstractMicrotubules (MTs) are structural units in the cytoskeleton. In brain cells they are responsible for axonal transport, information processing, and signaling mechanisms. Proper function of these processes is critical for healthy brain functions. Alcohol and substance use disorders (AUD/SUDs) affects the function and organization of MTs in the brain, making them a potential neuroimaging marker to study the resulting impairment of overall neurobehavioral and cognitive processes. Our lab reported the first brain-penetrant MT-tracking Positron Emission Tomography (PET) ligand [11C]MPC-6827 and demonstrated its in vivo utility in rodents and non-human primates. To further explore the in vivo imaging potential of [11C]MPC-6827, we need to investigate its mechanism of action. Here, we report preliminary in vitro binding results in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to ethanol (EtOH) or cocaine in combination with multiple agents that alter MT stability. EtOH and cocaine treatments increased MT stability and decreased free tubulin monomers. Our initial cell-binding assay demonstrated that [11C]MPC-6827 may have high affinity to free/unbound tubulin units. Consistent with this mechanism of action, we observed lower [11C]MPC-6827 uptake in SH-SY5Y cells after EtOH and cocaine treatments (e.g., fewer free tubulin units). We are currently performing in vivo PET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies in rodent and nonhuman primate models of AUD and SUDs and Alzheimer's disease.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2937
Author(s):  
Naima Agouram ◽  
El Mestafa El Hadrami ◽  
Abdeslem Bentama

Natural peptides are an important class of chemical mediators, essential for most vital processes. What limits the potential of the use of peptides as drugs is their low bioavailability and enzymatic degradation in vivo. To overcome this limitation, the development of new molecules mimicking peptides is of great importance for the development of new biologically active molecules. Therefore, replacing the amide bond in a peptide with a heterocyclic bioisostere, such as the 1,2,3-triazole ring, can be considered an effective solution for the synthesis of biologically relevant peptidomimetics. These 1,2,3-triazoles may have an interesting biological activity, because they behave as rigid link units, which can mimic the electronic properties of amide bonds and show bioisosteric effects. Additionally, triazole can be used as a linker moiety to link peptides to other functional groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 314
Author(s):  
Maria D. Dmitrieva ◽  
Anna A. Voitova ◽  
Maya A. Dymova ◽  
Vladimir A. Richter ◽  
Elena V. Kuligina

Background: The combination of the unique properties of cancer cells makes it possible to find specific ligands that interact directly with the tumor, and to conduct targeted tumor therapy. Phage display is one of the most common methods for searching for specific ligands. Bacteriophages display peptides, and the peptides themselves can be used as targeting molecules for the delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Phage display can be performed both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, it is possible to carry out the phage display on cells pre-enriched for a certain tumor marker, for example, CD44 and CD133. Methods: For this work we used several methods, such as phage display, sequencing, cell sorting, immunocytochemistry, phage titration. Results: We performed phage display using different screening systems (in vitro and in vivo), different phage libraries (Ph.D-7, Ph.D-12, Ph.D-C7C) on CD44+/CD133+ and without enrichment U-87 MG cells. The binding efficiency of bacteriophages displayed tumor-targeting peptides on U-87 MG cells was compared in vitro. We also conducted a comparative analysis in vivo of the specificity of the accumulation of selected bacteriophages in the tumor and in the control organs (liver, brain, kidney and lungs). Conclusions: The screening in vivo of linear phage peptide libraries for glioblastoma was the most effective strategy for obtaining tumor-targeting peptides providing targeted delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents to glioblastoma.


Peptides ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 2409-2417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Evangelou ◽  
Christos Zikos ◽  
Dimitra Benaki ◽  
Maria Pelecanou ◽  
Penelope Bouziotis ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songyang Liu ◽  
Liping Zhou ◽  
Ci Li ◽  
Tiantian Min ◽  
Changfeng Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is one of the common clinical injuries which needs to be addressed. Previous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of using biodegradable chitin (CT) conduits small gap tubulization technology as a substitute for traditional epineurial neurorrhaphy. Aiming to improve the effectiveness of CT conduits in repairing PNI, we modified their surface with a DNA-peptide coating. The coating consisted of single strand DNA (ssDNA) and its complementary DNA’-peptide mimics. First, we immobilize ssDNA (DNA1+2) on CT conduits by EDC/NHS method to construct CT/DNA conduits. EDC/NHS was used to activate carboxyl groups of modified ssDNA for direct reaction with primary amines on the chitin via amide bond formation. Then, DNA1’-BDNF+DNA2’-VEGF mimic peptide (RGI+KLT)were bonded to CT/DNA conduits by complementary base pairing principle at room temperature to form CT/RGI+KLT conduits. When the surrounding environment rose to a certain point (37℃), the CT/RGI+KLT conduits achieved sustainable release of DNA’-peptide. In vitro, the CT conduits modified with the DNA-peptide coating promoted the proliferation and secretion of Schwann cells by maintaining their repair state. It also promoted the proliferation of HUVECs and axon outgrowth of DRG explants. In vivo, CT/RGI+KLT conduits promoted regeneration of injured nerves and functional recovery of target muscles, which was facilitated by the synergistic contribution of angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Our research brings DNA and DNA-peptide hybrids into the realm of tissue engineering to repair peripheral nerve injury.


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