Title

Targeting of the epidermal growth factor receptor with mesoporphyrin IX-peptide conjugates

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

The synthesis and evaluation of four mesoporphyrin IX-peptide conjugates designed to target EGFR, over-expressed in colorectal and other cancers, are reported. Two peptides with known affinity for EGFR, LARLLT () and GYHWYGYTPQNVI (), were conjugated to mesoporphyrin IX (MPIX, ) one or both the propionic side chains, directly (, ) or with a triethylene glycol spacer (, ). The conjugates were characterized using NMR, MS, CD, SPR, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. Energy minimization and molecular dynamics suggest different conformations for the conjugates. SPR studies show that conjugate , bearing two LARLLT with no PEG spacers, has the greatest affinity for binding to EGFR, followed by conjugate with two PEG and two LARLLT sequences. Molecular modeling and docking studies suggest that both conjugates and can bind to monomer and dimer EGFR in open and closed conformations. The cytotoxicity and cellular targeting ability of the conjugates were investigated in human HEp2 cells over-expressing EGFR. All conjugates showed low dark- and photo-toxicities. The cellular uptake was highest for conjugates and and lowest for bearing two LARLLT linked PEG groups, likely due to decreased hydrophobicity. Among the conjugates investigated is the most efficient EGFR-targeting agent, and therefore the most promising for the detection of cancers that over-express EGFR.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of porphyrins and phthalocyanines

First Page

352

Last Page

366

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