A study of the endocytosis mechanism and transendothelial activity of lung-targeted GALA-modified liposomes.

The GALA peptide (WEAALAEALAEALAEHLAEALAEALEALAA) was originally designed to induce the destabilization of endosomal membranes based on its ability to undergo a pH-dependent conformational change from a random coil to an α-helix. We recently found that liposomes modified with GALA peptide (GALA-LPs) extensively accumulate in lung endothelial cells (ECs) after intravenous injection. However, the uptake mechanism of GALA-LPs and their ability to reach alveolar epithelium was unclear.

PEGylation of the GALA Peptide Enhances the Lung-Targeting Activity of Nanocarriers That Contain Encapsulated siRNA.

A α-helical GALA peptide (WEAALAEALAEALAEHLAEALAEALEALAA) has been found to possess dual functions: a pH-dependent inducer of endosomal escape, and a ligand that targets lung endothelium. In the present study, the flexibility of GALA was improved by modifying the edge with polyethylene glycol linker, to increase lung-targeting activity. We first investigated the uptake of the GALA-modified liposomes in which GALA was directly conjugated to the lipid (Cholesterol: GALA/Chol) or the phospholipid-PEG (GALA/PEG).

Transcytosis-Targeting Peptide: A Conductor of Liposomal Nanoparticles through the Endothelial Cell Barrier.

The ultimate goal in the area of drug-delivery systems is the development of a nanoparticle that can penetrate the endothelial cell monolayer for the targeting of tissue parenchyma. In the present study, we identify a transcytosis-targeting peptide (TTP) that permits polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-modified liposomes (PEG-LPs) to penetrate through monolayers of brain-derived endothelial cells. These endothelial cells were layered on a gelatin nanofiber sheet, a nanofiber meshwork that allows the evaluation of transcellular transport of nanosized particles (ca.

Advantages of ethanol dilution method for preparing GALA-modified liposomal siRNA carriers on the in vivo gene knockdown efficiency in pulmonary endothelium.

We previously reported that a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) modified with a GALA peptide (GALA/MEND) exerted dual functions; effective targeting the pulmonary endothelium and endosomal escape. The GALA/MEND containing encapsulated siRNA was originally prepared by the film coated hydration method (GALA/MENDHyd). However, an ethanol dilution method was found to be more appropriate for scaling up the preparation of this liposomal nanoparticle.