Publication

Hierarchical design of hyaluronic acid-peptide constructs for glioblastoma targeting: Combining insights from NMR and molecular dynamics simulations

View document

Bibliographic Details
Summary:The main bottleneck of glioblastoma still relies on the existence of the blood brain-blood brain tumor dual barrier, along with the lack of therapy specificity. The present work deals with the question of whether (and how) different targeting hyaluronic acid (HA)-peptide [c(RGDfK) and/or H7K(R2)2] moieties hierarchically interact with each other, to ensure a unique entity with specificity to glioblastoma. A dual experimental-computational approach, encompassing nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular dynamics simulations is enclosed. Relevant contact patterns based on the identification of the stabilizing/destabilizing noncovalent interactions within the constructs are detailed. The synthesis pathway requires the HA-c(RGDfK)-H7k(R2)2 association hierarchy, stemming from the size and amino acid residue rearrangement, in the 1:1 M ratio, to obtain a stable conjugate ultimately able to interact with the tumor cell membrane. To our knowledge, the structural and mechanistic rationale for the formation of hybrid polymer-peptide constructs, including HA-c(RGDfK)-H7k(R2)2, for glioblastoma has not been addressed so far.
Main Authors:Mendes, Maria
Other Authors:Cova, Tânia; Basso, João; Ramos, M. Luísa; Vitorino, Rui; Sousa, João; Pais, Alberto; Vitorino, Carla
Subject:Hyaluronic acid c(RGDfK) H7k(R2)2 Polymer-peptide conjugates Glioblastoma
Year:2020
Country:Portugal
Document type:article
Access type:open access
Associated institution:Universidade de Coimbra
Language:English
Origin:Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra
Description
Summary:The main bottleneck of glioblastoma still relies on the existence of the blood brain-blood brain tumor dual barrier, along with the lack of therapy specificity. The present work deals with the question of whether (and how) different targeting hyaluronic acid (HA)-peptide [c(RGDfK) and/or H7K(R2)2] moieties hierarchically interact with each other, to ensure a unique entity with specificity to glioblastoma. A dual experimental-computational approach, encompassing nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular dynamics simulations is enclosed. Relevant contact patterns based on the identification of the stabilizing/destabilizing noncovalent interactions within the constructs are detailed. The synthesis pathway requires the HA-c(RGDfK)-H7k(R2)2 association hierarchy, stemming from the size and amino acid residue rearrangement, in the 1:1 M ratio, to obtain a stable conjugate ultimately able to interact with the tumor cell membrane. To our knowledge, the structural and mechanistic rationale for the formation of hybrid polymer-peptide constructs, including HA-c(RGDfK)-H7k(R2)2, for glioblastoma has not been addressed so far.

Funded activities

No funded projects found.