Protein-based drug delivery systems

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Chemistry
Degree name
Doctor of Philosophy
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Chemistry
Journal Title
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Date
2004
Authors
Squire, Marie A.
Abstract

The targeted delivery of drugs is one of the most actively pursued goals in anti-HIV and anti-cancer chemotherapy. This project takes a proof-of-concept approach to the development of protein-based drug delivery systems - delivery systems that would package, target, and deliver cytotoxins to diseased cells. Primarily, this project explores the use of the potent anti-HN protein, cyanovirin-N (CV-N), to actively target and deliver cytotoxic natural products to HN-infected cells. This project also investigates the use of human serum albumin (HSA), a 66 kDa protein, as a macromolecular carrier to passively target and deliver cytotoxic natural products to cancerous cells. To facilitate release of the toxin within infected cells, an enzymatically-cleavable tetra peptide was incorporated in the conjugates. Maleimido-activated tetra peptide toxin constructs were prepared in readiness for selective reaction with proteins carrying thiol functionalities. Release of the toxin, norhomohalichondrin B, was demonstrated in vitro. Native CV -N conjugates were prepared by thiolation of the lysine ε-amino groups, and the subsequent reaction with maleimido-activated compounds. Reaction across all lysine residues was demonstrated. A singly-substituted tyrosinamide conjugate of CV-N was prepared. Two recombinantly produced mutant CV-N proteins allowed for the production of selectively modified, double- and single-norhomohalichondrin B conjugates of CV-N. The conjugates retained the anti-HN activity of the parent protein. Homohalichondrin B, doxorubicin, and tyrosinamide conjugates of HSA were prepared. The syntheses exploited the availability of a free thiolmoiety at cysteine-34 of HSA, and the specific and selective reaction of this thiol with the maleimido-activated tetra peptide derivatives. All toxin conjugates demonstrate excellent cell toxicity. Further research to investigate whether this is targeted toxicity is currently underway.

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Copyright Marie A. Squire