Molecular determinants for brain targeting by peptides: a meta-analysis approach with experimental validation

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) peptide-shuttles (BBBpS) are able to translocate the BBB and reach the brain. Despite the importance of brain targeting in pharmacology, BBBpS are poorly characterized. Currently, their development relies on the empiric assumption that cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), with proven ability to traverse lipid membranes, will likewise behave as a BBBpS. The relationship between CPPs/BBBpS remains elusive and, to the best of our knowledge, has not hitherto been subject to thorough experimental scrutiny. In this work, we have identified/quantified the main physicochemical properties of BBBpS and then searched for CPPs with these properties, hence potential BBBpS. The specific features found for BBBpS are: (i) small size, (ii) none or few aromatic residues, (iii) hydrophobic, and (iv) slight cationic nature. Then, we selected the 10 scoring best in an ordinary least squares analysis, and tested them in vitro and in vivo. Overall, we identified the molecular determinants for brain targeting by peptides, devised a methodology that can be used to assist in the design of peptides with potential brain penetration from amino acid residue sequences, and found four new BBBpS within the CPP library.