[The application of enzyme-sensitive activatable cell-penetrating peptides to targeted delivery system]

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) facilitate non-selective, receptor-independent cellular uptake.
• The broad applicability of CPPs is hindered by their lack of specificity, posing challenges for targeted cancer therapies.
• Strategies are being developed to switch systemically delivered CPPs into an active form specifically at tumor sites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the advancements in activatable CPPs (ACPPs) for targeted delivery.
• To highlight the potential of enzyme-sensitive ACPPs in overcoming CPP limitations.
• To discuss the application of ACPPs in disease treatment and diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Focus on enzyme-sensitive domain incorporated delivery systems.
• Review of literature on activatable CPPs (ACPPs).
• Analysis of strategies for selective CPP activation in target lesions.

Main Results:

• ACPPs demonstrate a promising balance between the advantages and disadvantages of CPPs.
• Enzyme-sensitive ACPPs show potential for targeted activation within tumors.
• These systems offer improved prospects for disease treatment and diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Activatable CPPs represent a significant advancement in targeted drug and imaging agent delivery.
• The enzyme-sensitive approach enhances specificity, addressing a key limitation of traditional CPPs.
• ACPPs hold considerable potential for improving cancer therapeutics and diagnostics.