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Updated: Aug 17, 2025
Fibroblast Derived Human Engineered Connective Tissue for Screening Applications
Published on: August 20, 2021
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Peptide Targeting Human Tenon Fibroblast Cells To Modulate Fibrosis: An
Divya Gopal1, Hemavathy Nagarajan2, Bharathselvi Muthuvel3
1Department of Nanobiotechnology, Vision Research Foundation, No. 18/41, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600006, Tamil Nadu, India.
This study developed a novel peptide-drug conjugate delivered via a nanofiber system to improve antifibrotic treatment for glaucoma surgery, enhancing drug delivery and bioavailability to combat scarring.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Fibrosis significantly impacts glaucoma surgery prognosis by causing scarring and limiting intraocular pressure control.
- Current antifibrotic treatments, like mitomycin C, have limited efficacy due to poor drug penetration and bioavailability.
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human tenon fibroblasts is a key process in post-surgical scarring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a cell-specific peptide (VRF2019) for modulating fibrosis in human tenon fibroblasts.
- To conjugate the peptide with mitomycin C and evaluate its efficacy within a polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber composite system.
- To assess the enhanced drug delivery and bioavailability of the conjugated antifibrotic agent.
Main Methods:
- Peptide VRF2019 identified via subtractive proteomics; structure confirmed by circular dichroism and molecular dynamics simulations.
- Peptide-drug conjugation achieved using EDC-NHS chemistry; efficiency verified by HPLC.
- Composite nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning of PCL and the conjugate; characterized by SEM; cytotoxicity and drug release studied in vitro.
Main Results:
- VRF2019 peptide demonstrated an α-helical structure with membrane penetration potential and cellular uptake in fibroblasts.
- HPLC and mass spectrometry confirmed successful peptide-mitomycin C conjugation and stability.
- PCL composite nanofibers showed favorable structure and size, with enhanced drug delivery and bioavailability observed in preliminary tests.
Conclusions:
- The developed VRF2019 peptide shows promise for targeting fibrosis in glaucoma surgery.
- Conjugation with mitomycin C and encapsulation in PCL nanofibers significantly improves antifibrotic drug delivery and bioavailability.
- This novel nanofiber composite system offers a potential strategy to overcome limitations in current glaucoma surgical interventions.
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