A comparison of acyl-moieties for noncovalent functionalization of PLGA and PEG-PLGA nanoparticles with a cell-penetrating peptide
Omar Paulino da Silva Filho, Muhanad Ali, Rike Nabbefeld, Daniel Primavessy, Petra H. M. Bovée‐Geurts, Silko Grimm, Andreas Kirchner, Karl‐Heinz Wiesmüller, Marc Schneider, X. Frank Walboomers, Roland Brock
Abstract
-glycolide) (PLGA) or polyethene glycol (PEG)-PLGA block-copolymer with a lactoferrin-derived cell-penetrating peptide (hLF). To enhance the association between the peptide and the polymer NPs, we tested a range of acyl moieties for N-terminal acylation of the peptide as a means to promote noncovalent interactions. Acyl moieties differed in chain length and number of acyl chains. Peptide-functionalized NPs were characterized for nanoparticle size, overall net charge, storage stability, and intracellular uptake. Coating particles with a palmitoylated hLF resulted in minimal precipitation after storage at -20C and homogeneous particle size (<200 nm). Palmitoyl-hLF coated NPs showed enhanced delivery in different cells in comparison to NPs lacking functionalization. Moreover, in comparison to acetyl-hLF, palmitoyl-hLF was also suited for coating and enhancing the cellular uptake of PEG-PLGA NPs.