Characterizing and Controlling the Loading and Release of Cationic Amphiphilic Peptides onto and from PEG-Stabilized...

Recent studies have identified PEG-stabilized lipid nanodisks (lipodisks) as promising carriers for cationic amphiphilic peptides with antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Using fluorimetric and nanogravimetric methods, we have in this work characterized the parameters describing and controlling the binding of three selected peptides (melittin, LL37, and magainin 2) onto lipodisks. It was found that the affinity of melittin for lipodisks is independent of the disk size and rim charge. On the other hand, the number of binding sites is strongly dependent on both parameters, with the highest loading being obtained for small disks with a negatively charged rim. An optimized composition of the lipodisks was utilized to study the loading of antimicrobial peptides magainin 2 and human LL37. It was observed that although magainin 2 can be loaded in large amounts, it is released very fast upon dilution, which limits future therapeutic applications. In contrast, LL37 can be loaded at relevant concentrations and the formulation is stable. This opens up for applications of LL37-loaded lipodisks as antibiotics and in anticancer treatments.