Assessment of the Oral Delivery of a Myelin Basic Protein Gene Promoter with Antiapoptotic bcl-x (pMBP-bcl-x) DNA by Cyclic Peptide Nanotubes with Two Aspect Ratios and Its Biodistribution in the Brain and Spinal Cord.

Cyclo-(D-Trp-Tyr) peptide nanotubes (PNTs) were reported to be potential carriers for oral gene delivery in our previous study; however, the effect of the aspect ratio (AR) of these PNTs on gene delivery could affect penetration or interception in biological environments. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of cyclo-(D-Trp-Tyr) PNTs with two ARs as carriers for oral pMBP-bcl-x- delivery to the spinal cord to treat spinal cord injury (SCI). We evaluated the biodistribution of oligodendrocyte (OLG)-specific myelin basic protein gene promoter-driven antiapoptotic DNA (pMBP-bcl-x) to the brain and spinal cord delivered with cyclo-(D-Trp-Tyr) PNTs with large (L) and small (S) PNTs with two ARs.