Peptide-Based Inorganic Nanoparticles as Efficient Intracellular Delivery Systems.

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Peptide-based inorganic nanoparticles (PINPs) are hybrid nanostructures combining metal cores with peptides.
• They offer unique structural and functional attributes for intracellular delivery.
• Peptides provide biocompatibility, targeting specificity, and stimulus-responsive drug release.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of PINPs.
• To highlight the role of diverse peptide classes in PINP design.
• To explore the potential of PINPs in drug delivery and nanomedicine.

Main Methods:

• Review of green, peptide-mediated one-pot synthesis approaches.
• Discussion of functionalization strategies like thiol-gold bonds and click chemistries.
• Overview of characterization techniques including TEM, DLS, and FTIR.

Main Results:

• PINPs enable targeted drug delivery with imaging/theranostic capabilities.
• They improve drug stability and cellular uptake.
• Peptide programmability allows for precision nanomedicine applications.

Conclusions:

• PINPs are multifunctional platforms with significant potential for drug delivery and diagnostics.
• Challenges include in vivo stability, immunogenicity, and standardization.
• Further research is needed to address these challenges for clinical translation.