Metabolic cleavage and translocation efficiency of selected cell penetrating peptides: a comparative study with epithelial cell cultures.

We investigated the metabolic stability of four cell penetrating peptides (CPPs), namely SAP, hCT(9-32)-br, [Palpha] and [Pbeta], when in contact with either subconfluent HeLa, confluent MDCK or Calu-3 epithelial cell cultures. Additionally, through analysis of their cellular translocation efficiency, we evaluated possible relations between metabolic stability and translocation efficiency. Metabolic degradation kinetics and resulting metabolites were assessed using RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Reviewing biophysical and cell biological methodologies in cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) research.

The discovery of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which have the ability to translocate across the plasma membranes of mammalian cells, has led to widespread optimism for delivery of problematic therapeutic cargoes to cells. These cargoes include peptide, protein, and nucleic acid biopharmaceuticals and even nano-sized vectors such as liposomes and nanoparticles. Research on CPPs includes biophysical studies of membrane models to investigate fundamental principles of CPP-lipid membrane interactions as well as cell studies focusing on the efficiency of uptake, mechanisms of translocation, and toxicity.