Chapter 19 - Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and peptide-drug conjugate systems (PDCs): site-specific delivery of bioactive(s) for effective breast cancer therapy

Abstract

In the present scenario, the role of the peptide as a targeting moiety is enhanced in different types of cancer treatment which have biological actions based on their properties of penetration of the cell (cell-penetrating peptide), by conjugating the peptide with the drug studied (peptide–drug conjugates), or by using a target-specific peptide (cell-targeting peptide). These are used in the drug delivery of different biological molecules including nucleic acid, therapeutic drugs, liposomes, imaging molecules, nanomolecules, and large plasmids such as therapeutic driver molecules. The mechanism of the transport/internalization is endocytosis. This chapter describes different types of CPP/CPP-cargo, cell-targeting peptides, and peptide–drug conjugates for effective targeting of breast cancer treatment.