Peptides as a therapeutic avenue for nanocarrier-aided targeting of glioma

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Very few successful interventions have been possible in glioma therapy owing to its aggressive nature as well as its hindrance of targeted therapy together with the limited access afforded by the blood–brain barrier (BBB). With the advent of nanotechnology based delivery vehicles such as micelles, dendrimers, polymer-based nanoparticles and nanogels, the breach of the BBB has been facilitated. However, there remains the issue of targeted therapy for glioma cells. Peptide-mediated surface modification of nanocarriers serves this purpose, extending the ability to target glioma further than the enhanced permeability and retention effect.

Areas covered: Here we have tried to re-establish the significance of peptides that could be used in various ways for treating glioma. Peptide-embellished nanocarriers used to deliver anticancer drugs; nucleic acids (siRNA, miRNA); micelles or dendrimers grafted with immunogenic glioma-derived peptides used for stimulating active immunity in vaccine therapy, glioma targets for cell penetrating peptides and homing to specific receptors are reviewed.

Expert opinion: Peptides have multifunctional potential in targeting, BBB and cell penetration, and can serve as antagonists of various ligands and agonists of particular over-expressed receptors as discussed in this review. Using peptides in targeted personalized therapy would be one step forward and may offer new avenues for glioma therapeutics.

KEYWORDS:

• Glioma
• BBB
• peptide glioma
• cell penetrating and homing peptides
• peptide vaccines
• nanocarriers for glioma

Article highlights

• This review is a contemplative survey of major hindrances in drug delivery and treatment in Glioma and how peptides can help resolve these issues.

• Targets that can be explored based on the BBB and BBTB state, via use of peptide decorated nanocarriers are reviewed

• Target specific delivery of anti glioma drugs, gene silencing via miRNA, siRNA by use of peptide homing and cell penetration potential is explored.

• We have proposed use of nanocarrier loaded peptides as immunostimulants- peptide vaccines; complementary or as substitute to dendritic cells, due to the ease of manufacturing and administration.

• Brief discussion of advantages of using peptides against its disadvantages promoting its use as therapeutic agent in Glioma therapy.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgments

M Wanjale is thankful to Department of Science and Technology (DST) for providing Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). The authors are thankful to Department. of Biotechnology, India for providing a facility.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.