| AVS 64th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Biomaterial Interfaces Division | Thursday Sessions |
| Session BI+AS-ThA |
| Session: | Biomolecules and Biophysics at Interfaces |
| Presenter: | Cristina Satriano, University of Catania, Italy |
| Authors: | C. Satriano, University of Catania, Italy P. Di Pietro, University of Catania, Italy N. Caporarello, University of Catania, Italy C.D. Anfuso, University of Catania, Italy G. Lupo, University of Catania, Italy A. Magrì, National Council of Research (IBB-CNR), Italy D. La Mendola, University of Pisa, Italy E. Rizzarelli, University of Catania, Italy |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Neurotrophins are vital proteins for neural developing and maintenance as well as promising drugs in several neurodegenerative disorders.
In the present work we propose a combined approach of peptidomimetic and nanomedicine to tackle their current limits in an effective clinical application. Specifically, neurotrophin-mimicking peptides may allow for reducing some adverse side effects shown by the whole protein [1]. Moreover, the immobilisation of these peptides on nanoparticles offers many advantages, such as the protection against degradation, an enhanced permeability of barrier membranes and, if any, intrinsic nanomaterial therapeutic properties (for example, the anti-angiogenic and plasmonic features of gold nanoparticles, AuNPs) [2].
The functionalisation of spherical AuNPs of 12 nm of diameter by peptides owing respectively to the N-terminal domains of nerve growth factor, NGF1-14, and brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF1-12, were scrutinised both in the direct physisorption and in the lipid bilayer-mediated adsorption processes. UV-visible and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, QCM-D, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential analyses and atomic force microscopy were used to investigate the hybrid nano-biointerface. Both peptide- and lipid-dependant features were identified, in order to have a modulation in the nanoparticles peptide coverage as well as in the cellular uptake of NGF and BDNF peptides, as investigated by confocal microscopy. The promising potentialities in the capability to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) were demonstrated with Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells, a cell model representative of human brain endothelium that exhibits barrier properties comparable to other BBB models.
[1] Pandini, G., Satriano, C., Pietropaolo, A., Gianì, F., Travaglia, A., La Mendola, D., Nicoletti, V.G. and Rizzarelli, E. (2016). The Inorganic Side of NGF: Copper (II) and Zinc (II) Affect the NGF Mimicking Signaling of the N-Terminus Peptides Encompassing the Recognition Domain of TrkA Receptor. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 10.
[2] Di Pietro, P., Strano, G., Zuccarello, L. and Satriano, C. (2016). Gold and silver nanoparticles for applications in theranostics. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 16(27), 3069-3102.