Computational modeling and surface plasmon resonance analyses in the assessment of peptide ligands interacting with fibrin gamma(312-324) epitope.

Fibrin represents a suitable target for addressing delivery systems loaded by fibrinolytic drugs. Selective ligands capable to recognize fibrin could be used as targeting moieties for such systems. In this study the interactions between the gamma(312-324) epitope of human fibrin and peptidic ligands were analyzed by using experimental and computational methods.

Design of highly specific ligands of fibrin for therapeutic applications.

The work presented here is aimed at designing high-affinity ligands for the fibrin gamma (312-324) epitope. This epitope is specific for fibrin recognition, as it is exposed only on the fibrin surface, while in fibrinogen it is buried in the protein bulk. This property makes it very useful for therapeutic applications.