Analysis of Self-Assembled Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Poly-L-Lysine–Ce6 Conjugate-Based Nanoparticles

Seo, Minho; Lee, Kyeong-Ju; Seo, Bison; Lee, Jun-Hyuck; Lee, Jae-Hyeon; Shin, Dong-Wook; Park, Jooho

doi:10.3390/biom14040431

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Self-Assembled Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Poly-L-Lysine–Ce6 Conjugate-Based Nanoparticles

by

Minho Seo

^1,†,

Kyeong-Ju Lee

^1,†

,

Bison Seo

²,

Jun-Hyuck Lee

¹,

Jae-Hyeon Lee

¹

,

Dong-Wook Shin

²

and

Jooho Park

^1,2,*

¹

BK21 Program, Department of Applied Life Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Republic of Korea

²

College of Biomedical and Health Science (RIBHS), Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Republic of Korea

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Biomolecules 2024, 14(4), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14040431

Submission received: 22 February 2024 / Revised: 26 March 2024 / Accepted: 27 March 2024 / Published: 2 April 2024

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization, and Application of Bioactive Peptides, Diagnostic Biomarkers, and Pharmaceutical Proteins)

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Abstract

In cancer therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted significant attention due to its high potential for tumor-selective treatment. However, PDT agents often exhibit poor physicochemical properties, including solubility, necessitating the development of nanoformulations. In this study, we developed two cationic peptide-based self-assembled nanomaterials by using a PDT agent, chlorin e6 (Ce6). To manufacture biocompatible nanoparticles based on peptides, we used the cationic poly-L-lysine peptide, which is rich in primary amines. We prepared low- and high-molecular-weight poly-L-lysine, and then evaluated the formation and performance of nanoparticles after chemical conjugation with Ce6. The results showed that both molecules formed self-assembled nanoparticles by themselves in saline. Interestingly, the high-molecular-weight poly-L-lysine and Ce6 conjugates (HPLCe6) exhibited better self-assembly and PDT performance than low-molecular-weight poly-L-lysine and Ce6 conjugates (LPLCe6). Moreover, the HPLCe6 conjugates showed superior cellular uptake and exhibited stronger cytotoxicity in cell toxicity experiments. Therefore, it is functionally beneficial to use high-molecular-weight poly-L-lysine in the manufacturing of poly-L-lysine-based self-assembling biocompatible PDT nanoconjugates.

Keywords: photodynamic therapy; anticancer therapy; bioconjugate; peptide derivatives; nanoparticle

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MDPI and ACS Style

Seo, M.; Lee, K.-J.; Seo, B.; Lee, J.-H.; Lee, J.-H.; Shin, D.-W.; Park, J. Analysis of Self-Assembled Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Poly-L-Lysine–Ce6 Conjugate-Based Nanoparticles. Biomolecules 2024, 14, 431. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14040431

AMA Style

Seo M, Lee K-J, Seo B, Lee J-H, Lee J-H, Shin D-W, Park J. Analysis of Self-Assembled Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Poly-L-Lysine–Ce6 Conjugate-Based Nanoparticles. Biomolecules. 2024; 14(4):431. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14040431

Chicago/Turabian Style

Seo, Minho, Kyeong-Ju Lee, Bison Seo, Jun-Hyuck Lee, Jae-Hyeon Lee, Dong-Wook Shin, and Jooho Park. 2024. "Analysis of Self-Assembled Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Poly-L-Lysine–Ce6 Conjugate-Based Nanoparticles" Biomolecules 14, no. 4: 431. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14040431

APA Style

Seo, M., Lee, K.-J., Seo, B., Lee, J.-H., Lee, J.-H., Shin, D.-W., & Park, J. (2024). Analysis of Self-Assembled Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Poly-L-Lysine–Ce6 Conjugate-Based Nanoparticles. Biomolecules, 14(4), 431. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14040431

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Analysis of Self-Assembled Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Poly-L-Lysine–Ce6 Conjugate-Based Nanoparticles

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