Novel Concept of Delivery of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Agents to Cells in Acidic Diseased Tissue using Energy of Membrane-Associated Folding

Abstract

We are developing a novel technology for selective delivery of imaging probes and membrane-impermeable molecules to cells with low extracellular pH. It is based on action of water-soluble membrane peptide, pHLIP® (pH [Low] Insertion Peptide), which inserts and folds in cellular membrane at slightly acidic environment, characteristic for various pathological states including cancer and ischemic myocardium. pHLIP possess dual delivery capability. Imaging agents (fluorescent, PET, SPECT or MRI) could be attached to the N-terminus of the peptide to mark tumor mass and tumor margins with high precision. At the same time, therapeutic molecules attached to the C-inserting end, could be moved across membrane to reach cytoplasmic target. Among translocated molecules are synthetic cyclic peptides, gene regulation agent (peptide nucleic acid) and phalla- and amanita toxins with hydrophobicity tuned by attachment of fatty acids for optimum delivery. We performed sequence variation and investigated 16 pHLIP variants with main goals of understanding the main principles of peptide-lipid interactions and tune delivery capability of pHLIP. The biophysical studies including thermodynamics and kinetics of the peptides interaction with a lipid bilayer of liposomes and cellular membranes were carried out. We found that peptides association to membrane at neutral and low pH could be modulated by 3-4 times. The apparent pK of transition from surface bound to membrane-inserted state could be tuned from 6.5 to 4.5. The rate of peptide's insertion across a bilayer could be enhanced 100 times compared to parent pHLIP. As a result, blood clearance and tumor targeting were modulated in a significant degree. The work is supported by NIH grants CA133890 to OAA, DME, YRK.