Cell Penetrating Peptides --From bench to bedsideGCOE Program Seminar(Global Education Seminar)

A dramatic acceleration in the discovery of therapeutic macromolecules such as proteins, peptides, siRNA, oligonucleotide and plasmid DNA which present a high specificity for their target but do not follow Lipinski's rules. Pharmaceutical potency of the bio-macromolecules remains restricted by their poor stability in vivo and by their low uptake into cells. Efficient internalization of the bio-macromolecules into target cells is critical to gain the desired therapeutic effect. An ideal delivery system for the new generation drugs mast be 1) delivery efficiency in different cells; 2) rapid endosomal release; 3) ability to reach the target; 4) activity at low doses, and lack of cytotoxicity; 5) facility of therapeutic application. Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) can satisfy the demands, and opened new opportunities for delivery of the bio-macromolecules in therapeutic development.
CPPs are short than 30 residue peptides and part of the most promising strategy to overcome both extracellular and intracellular limitations of various bio-macromolecules as well as liposomes. CPPs can across the plasma membrane into the cells with a cargo, and improve its intracellular routing, facilitating interactions with the target. Our research interests focused on optimization of CPPs penetrating efficiency and identification of new CPPs.