Synthetic DNA Delivery Systems


Book Description

DNA delivery into cells is a rapidly developing area in gene therapy and biotechnology. Moreover, it is a powerful research tool to determine gene structure, regulation, and function. Viral methods of DNA delivery are well-characterized and efficient, but little is known about the toxicity and immunogenecity of viral vectors. As a result, non-viral, transfection methods of DNA delivery are of increasing interest. Synthetic DNA Delivery Systems is a comprehensive and current resource on DNA transfection. The use of histidine-rich peptides and polypeptides as DNA delivery systems and self-assembled delivery systems based on cationic lipids and polymers are discussed. Targeted delivery to organelles, tumor cells and dendritic cells comprise an important topic.




Peptide Applications in Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Bioengineering


Book Description

Peptide Applications in Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Bioengineering summarizes the current knowledge on peptide applications in biomedicine, biotechnology and bioengineering. After a general introduction to peptides, the book addresses the many applications of peptides in biomedicine and medical technology. Next, the text focuses on peptide applications in biotechnology and bioengineering and reviews of peptide applications in nanotechnology. This book is a valuable resource for biomaterial scientists, polymer scientists, bioengineers, mechanical engineers, synthetic chemists, medical doctors and biologists. - Presents a self-contained work for the field of biomedical peptides - Summarizes the current knowledge on peptides in biomedicine, biotechnology and bioengineering - Covers current and potential applications of biomedical peptides




CPP, Cell-Penetrating Peptides


Book Description

In this book, a summary and update of the most important areas of CPP research are presented, whilst raising relevant questions for further development. The CPP sequences are presented and discussed throughout the book. The methods for testing CPP mechanisms are discussed in detail. Various approaches for the testing of endocytotic pathways of CPP uptake are also described. Different CPP uptake experiments are compared since it is becoming clear that it is often best to apply several methods in a complementary manner in order to most comprehensively evaluate CPP uptake mechanisms due to the complexity of these processes. A brief summary of functionality issues of CPPs, both in vitro and in vivo are discussed. Therapeutic potential of CPPs and commercial developments are discussed. The monograph is written for researchers and students in the field.




Peptide Synthesis and Applications


Book Description

Hands-on experts describe in step-by-step detail the key methodologies of contemporary peptide synthesis and illustrate their numerous applications. The techniques presented include protocols for chemical ligation, the synthesis of cyclic and phosphotyrosine-containing peptides, lipoamino acid- and sugar-conjugated peptides, and peptide purification and analyses. Additional chapters detail methodologies and instrumentation for high-throughput peptide synthesis, many different applications of peptides as novel research tools and biological probes, and the design and application of fluorescent substrate-based peptides that can be used to determine the selectivity and activity of peptidases. A practical guide to the identification of proteins using mass spectrometric analyses of peptide mixtures is also included.




Cell-Penetrating Peptides


Book Description

Divided into three parts this volume summarizes the most important areas of Cell-Penetrating Peptides (CPP) research . Part one briefly presents the historical background of CPP studies and the classifications of the available CPPs, and then summarizes the approaches for prediction of novel CPPs. Part two mainly describes the methods for studies of “naked” CPPs, that is, CPPs without conjugated cargos. Last but not least part three presents a representative and brief summary of functionality issues of CPPs, both in vitro and in vivo. As a volume in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Concise and easy-to-use, Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition hopes to raise relevant questions for further development.




Practical Medicinal Chemistry with Macrocycles


Book Description

Including case studies of macrocyclic marketed drugs and macrocycles in drug development, this book helps medicinal chemists deal with the synthetic and conceptual challenges of macrocycles in drug discovery efforts. Provides needed background to build a program in macrocycle drug discovery –design criteria, macrocycle profiles, applications, and limitations Features chapters contributed from leading international figures involved in macrocyclic drug discovery efforts Covers design criteria, typical profile of current macrocycles, applications, and limitations




Cell-Penetrating Peptides


Book Description

One of the major problems with drug delivery is the inability of large hydrophilic compounds to pass through the lipid membrane of the cell, thus making drugs such as polypeptides and oligonucleotides of limited therapeutic value. Until recently, the transport of such molecules into the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of living cells seemed a




Artificial Protein and Peptide Nanofibers


Book Description

Artificial Protein and Peptide Nanofibers: Design, Fabrication, Characterization, and Applications provides comprehensive knowledge of the preparation, modification and applications of protein and peptide nanofibers. The book reviews the synthesis and strategies necessary to create protein and peptide nanofibers, such as self-assembly (including supramolecular assembly), electrospinning, template synthesis, and enzymatic synthesis. Then, the key chemical modification and molecular design methods are highlighted that can be utilized to improve the bio-functions of these synthetic fibers. Finally, fabrication methods for key applications, such as sensing, drug delivery, imaging, tissue engineering and electronic devices are reviewed. This book will be an ideal resource for those working in materials science, polymer science, chemical engineering, nanotechnology and biomedicine. - Reviews key chemical modification and molecular design methods to improve the bio-functions of synthetic peptide and protein nanofibers - Discusses the most important synthesis strategies, including supramolecular assembly, electrospinning, template synthesis and enzymatic synthesis - Provides information on fabrication of nanofibers for key applications such as sensing, imaging, drug delivery and tissue engineering




Antimicrobial Peptides


Book Description

This book presents an overview of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), their mechanisms of antimicrobial action, other activities, and various problems that must still be overcome regarding their clinical application. Divided into four major parts, the book begins with a general overview of AMPs (Part I), and subsequently discusses the various mechanisms of antimicrobial action and methods for researching them (Part 2). It then addresses a range of activities other than antimicrobial action, such as cell penetration, antisepsis, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities (Part 3), and explores the prospects of clinical application from various standpoints such as the selective toxicity, design, and discovery of AMPs (Part 4). A huge number of AMPs have been discovered in plants, insects, and vertebrates including humans, and constitute host defense systems against invading pathogenic microorganisms. Consequently, many attempts have been made to utilize AMPs as antibiotics. AMPs could help to solve the urgent problem of drug-resistant bacteria, and are also promising with regard to sepsis and cancer therapy. Gathering a wealth of information, this book will be a bible for all those seeking to develop antibiotics, anti-sepsis, or anticancer agents based on AMPs.




Therapeutic Proteins and Peptides


Book Description

Therapeutic Proteins and Peptides, Volume 112 in an ongoing series promotes further research in the discovery of new therapeutic targets that can be affected by therapeutic proteins and peptides to cure or manage symptoms of human diseases, with this release focusing on the Rational Design of Stable Liquid Formulations of Biopharmaceuticals, Formulation strategies for peptides, proteins and antibodies using nanotechnology, the Solution structural dynamics of therapeutic peptides and their adsorption on plasmonic nanoparticles, Enzymatic approaches of protein-polymer conjugation, Chimeric small antibody fragments as a strategy to deliver therapeutic payloads, Smart cell-penetrating peptide-based techniques for cytoplasmic delivery of therapeutic macromolecules, and more. - Describes advances in the discovery and application of therapeutic proteins/peptides which allow better targeting to the site of treatment and cause fewer adverse effects when compared to chemical compounds used for disease treatment - Targeted to a very wide audience of specialists, researchers and students - Written by well-renown authorities in their field - Includes a number of high quality illustrations, figures and tables