Evaluation of a PEG-endosome disruptive peptide conjugate as a potential doxorubicin delivery system

In this study, it was aimed to develop a doxorubicin (DOX) carrier system based on a PEGylated TAT-derived cell penetrating peptide (G(2)RQR(3)QR(3)G(2)S) and to investigate drug release, self-assembly and stability properties of the carrier system. In the preparation of the drug delivery system, denoted as mPEG-peptide-oxime-DOX, methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) with M-n=1900 Da was used. DOX was attached to the mPEG-peptide carrier system via acid cleavable oxime bond. Control drug delivery system, lack of the peptide (mPEG-oxime-DOX) was also synthesized to assess the effect of the peptide on the physicochemical and DOX release properties of the carrier system. mPEG-oxime-DOX exhibited a pH programmed DOX release with respective % DOX release values of similar to 68% and similar to 28% at pH 5.0 and at pH 7.4 at the end of 54 h. For the mPEG-peptide-oxime-DOX, on the other hand, quite low DOX release (similar to 10-15 %) was observed for both pH values suggesting possible interactions between DOX and the peptide. Initial median size value (D50) of the mPEG-oxime-DOX was measured as similar to 24 nm, independent of pH. However, for the mPEG-peptide-oxime-DOX, quite lower D50 values (similar to 3 nm and similar to 6 nm at pH 5.0 and pH 7.4, respectively) were obtained due to the repulsions between the arginines in the peptide sequence. Sizes of both drug delivery systems, tended to increase upon incubation at physiological conditions for 1 day suggesting that longer PEG chains should be used to enhance the stability of the mPEG-peptide-oxime-DOX and mPEG-oximeDOX systems.