Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Many of the cancer drugs exhibit systemic and non-selective toxicity to all tissues. To limit systemic toxicity of cancer drugs, chemical and biological targeting has been proposed. In targeted approaches, the drugs are delivered to a specific location (i.e. only cancer cells) using targeting moieties, such as antibodies, aptamers, small protein scaffolds, peptides, and small molecule ligands. Currently, targeted methods are in clinical use and under investigation; however, success has been limited. The goal of this proposal is to develop a new, generic, targeting-free drug delivery method for localized cancer that in the future can result in more effective and less toxic treatments than current methodologies. Our approach relies on cell selection process controlled by externally induced temperature difference between the targeted cells and the adjacent cells. Drug delivery is facilitated by a peptide-based drug carrier, specifically designed to fold into triple helical conformation at temperatures lower than 37?C and penetrate cellular membrane only when folded. Thus, when in a coiled, non-helical conformation (above 37?C), the peptide cannot be internalized by the cells (OFF switch). When the temperature is lower than the folding temperature, the peptide will undergo coil-to-helix transition and assemble into triple helix. The peptide in the helical conformation can be internalized by the cell (ON switch). In addition we propose to develop cooling device that can externally-induce temperature difference between the targeted cells and the adjacent cells to assist with the temperature-responsive peptide nanocarrier uptake to malignant cells. This proposal aims to establish thermal discrimination conditions of nanocarrier delivery to selected cancer cells (MCF-7, A495, FaDu), determine peptide nanocarrier folding kinetics and correlate it with cellular uptake.
This aim will be accomplished using Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and the flow chamber equipped with syringe pump to mimic conditions in vivo. In addition, we aim to design and test cooling device to locally control temperature gradient to assist the delivery. The developmental objective is to increase the PI's involvement in interdisciplinary research directly related to human health and to increase the productivity of the PI laboratory. The requested support will result in the development of new methodologies and protocols that incorporate many scientific fields, including synthetic chemistry, cell biology, and engineering. This will directly increase participation of graduate (MS) and undergraduate students, including students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. This SC3 support, if awarded, will increase the PI's research output and improve competitiveness for major grant support such as NSF and NIH-RO1 type grants.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal describes the development of a novel approach to target-free cell section relying on a thermo-responsive peptide-based nanocarrier and cooling device. This generic method can potentially allow delivery of much higher dose to the localized cancer cells, and at the same time, it limits the delivery of the drug to other tissues thus can possibly diminish systemic side effects.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Continuance Award (SC3)
Project #
2SC3GM099594-05A1
Application #
9417501
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZGM1)
Program Officer
Alexander, Rashada
Project Start
2012-04-01
Project End
2022-04-30
Budget Start
2018-05-01
Budget End
2019-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
California State University Long Beach
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
006199129
City
Long Beach
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90840
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