1. Evolving nanomaterials using enzyme-driven dynamic peptide libraries (eDPL)
Apurba K Das, Andrew R Hirsth, Rein V Ulijn Faraday Discuss. 2009;143:293-303; discussion 359-72. doi: 10.1039/b902065a.
This paper describes the application of dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCL) towards the discovery of self-assembling nanostructures based on aromatic peptide derivatives and the continuous enzymatic exchange of amino acid sequences. Ultimately, the most thermodynamically stable self-assembling structures will dominate the system. In this respect, a library of precursor components, based on N-fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-amino acids (serine, S and threonine, T) and nucleophiles (leucine, L-; phenylalanine, F-; tyrosine, Y-; valine, V-; glycine, G-; alanine, A-OMe amino-acid esters) were investigated to produce Fmoc-dipeptide esters, denoted Fmoc-XY-OMe. Upon exposure to a protease (thermolysin), which catalyses peptide bond formation and hydrolysis under aqueous conditions at pH 8, dynamic libraries of self-assembling gelator species were generated. Depending on the molecular composition of the precursors present in the library different behaviours were observed. Single components, Fmoc-SF-OMe and Fmoc-TF-OMe, dominated over time in Fmoc-S/(L+F+Y+V+G+A)-OMe and Fmoc-T/ (L+F+Y+V+G+A)-OMe libraries. This represented > 80% of all peptide formed suggesting that a single component molecular structure dominates in these systems. In a competition experiment between Fmoc-(S+T)/F-OMe, conversions to each peptide corresponded directly with ratios of starting materials, implying that a bi-component nanostructure, where Fmoc-TF-OMe and Fmoc-SF-OMe are incorporated equally favourably, was formed. Several techniques including HPLC, LCMS and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize library composition and molecular interactions within the self-selecting libraries. Fluorescence spectroscopy analysis suggests that the most stable peptide nanostructures show significant pi-pi intermolecular electronic communication. Overall, the paper demonstrates a novel evolution-based approach with self-selection and amplification of supramolecular peptide nanostructures from a complex mixture of amino acid precursors.
2. Improved Micellar Formulation for Enhanced Delivery for Paclitaxel
Jieni Xu, Xiaolan Zhang, Yichao Chen, Yixian Huang, Pengcheng Wang, Yuan Wei, Xiaochao Ma, Song Li Mol Pharm. 2017 Jan 3;14(1):31-41. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.6b00581. Epub 2016 Nov 30.
We have previously improved the bioactivity of PEG5k-FTS2 system by incorporating disulfide bond (PEG5k-S-S-FTS2) to facilitate the release of farnesyl thiosalicylic acid (FTS).1 Later, fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) moiety has been introduced to PEG5k-FTS2 system (PEG5k-Fmoc-FTS2) in order to enhance drug loading capacity (DLC) and formulation stability.2 In this study, we have brought in both disulfide linkage and Fmoc group to PEG5k-FTS2 to form a simple PEG5k-Fmoc-S-S-FTS2 micellar system. PEG5k-Fmoc-S-S-FTS2 conjugate formed filamentous micelles with a ~10-fold decrease in critical micellar concentration (CMC). Compared with PEG5k-Fmoc-FTS2, our novel system exhibited further strengthened DLC and colloidal stability. More FTS was freed from PEG5k-Fmoc-S-S-FTS2 in treated tumor cells compared to PEG5k-Fmoc-FTS2, which was correlated to an increased cytotoxicity of our new carrier in these cancer cells. After loading Paclitaxel (PTX) into PEG5k-Fmoc-S-S-FTS2 micelles, it showed more potent efficiency in inhibition of tumor cell proliferation than Taxol and PTX-loaded PEG5k-Fmoc-FTS2. PTX release kinetics of PTX/PEG5k-Fmoc-S-S-FTS2 was much slower than that of Taxol and PTX/PEG5k-Fmoc-FTS2 in normal release medium. In contrast, in glutathione (GSH)-containing medium, PTX in PEG5k-Fmoc-S-S-FTS2 micelles revealed faster and more complete release. Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study showed that our PEG5k-Fmoc-S-S-FTS2 system maintained PTX in circulation for a longer time and delivered more PTX to tumor sites with less accumulation in major organs. Finally, PTX-loaded PEG5k-Fmoc-S-S-FTS2 micelles resulted in a superior therapeutic effect in vivo compared to Taxol and PTX formulated in PEG5k-Fmoc-FTS2 micelles.
3. Large-Scale Asymmetric Synthesis of Fmoc-( S)-2-Amino-6,6,6-Trifluorohexanoic Acid
Zizhen Yin, Hiroki Moriwaki, Hidenori Abe, Toshio Miwa, Jianlin Han, Vadim A Soloshonok ChemistryOpen. 2019 Jun 7;8(6):701-704. doi: 10.1002/open.201900131. eCollection 2019 Jun.
Here we report the first large-scale synthesis of Fmoc-(S)-2-amino-6,6,6-trifluorohexanoic acid via asymmetric alkylation of chiral Ni(II)-complex of glycine Schiff base with CF3(CH2)3I. The synthesis was performed on over 100 g scale and can be recommended as the most advanced procedure for reliable preparation of large amounts of enantiomerically pure Fmoc-(S)-2-amino-6,6,6-trifluorohexanoic acid for protein engineering and drug design. Chiral auxiliary used in this protocol can be >90 % recovered and reused.
