Anti-Angiogenesis Activities of Novel Peptide Complexes: Mitochondria-Disruptive 9mer Peptides Conjugated with the Integrin alpha V beta 3-Homing Cyclic RGD Motif

Abstract

RGD peptides are popular drug delivery tools in treating integrin αVβ3-expressing malignant tumors and tumor vasculature cells. We investigated the specific delivery and pharmacological potential of enantiomeric mitochondria-disruptive peptides (RLYLRIGRR-NH₂, RLRLRIGRR-NH₂, ALYLAIRRR-NH₂, and RLLLRIGRR-NH₂) after conjugation with an integrin αVβ3-homing peptide, cyclic pentameric RGD peptide. The cyclic RGD-conjugated mitochondria-disruptive peptides exhibited specific internalization, apoptosis induction, and cytotoxicity against integrin αVβ3-high-expressing human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Our findings indicate that these novel peptide complexes might prove good anti-angiogenesis reagents.