Targeted nanoparticles gained increasing attention thanks to their ability to delivery drugs to specific sites and lowering side effects. However, when injected into the bloodstream they are immediately covered by serum protein which cause loss of targeting capabilities and stability. Protein corona composition can be modulated using different approach like PEG coating and stealth peptide. We developed targeting nanoparticles with stealth properties for the treatment of different disease. Indeed, nanoparticles can be decorated with peptide aptamers and delivered to specific site of interest for the treatment of cancer, metabolic disorders or neurodegenerative disorders. We developed new peptide aptamers for targeted delivery of nanoparticles. Using molecular dynamics simulation to identify promising sequences and then we check their affinity for the targets. Selected peptides are employed for the formulation of new diagnostic and therapeutic formulations.
| People | Luca Bellucci, Melissa Santi* |
| Keywords | Nanoparticles, peptide aptamers, Targeting |
| Methods, techniques | Computational modeling and simulations, molecular and cellular biology, 3D spheroids |
| Publications | |
| M Santi, F Finamore, A Cecchettini, FM Santorelli, S Doccini, S Ricchiccioli, G Signore Protein Delivery by Peptide-Based Stealth Liposomes: A Biomolecular Insight into Enzyme Replacement Therapy Mol. Pharmaceutics 2020 | |
| A Ranalli, M Santi, L Capriotti, V Voliani, D Porciani, F Beltram, G Signore Peptide-Based Stealth Nanoparticles for Targeted and pH-Triggered Delivery Bioconjugate Chem. 2017 | |
| M Santi, G Maccari, P Mereghetti, V Voliani, S Rocchiccioli, N Ucciferri, S Luin, G Signore Rational design of a transferrin-binding peptide sequence tailored to targeted nanoparticle internalization Bioconjugate Chem. 2016 |