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Peptides can act as targeting molecules, analogously to oligonucleotide aptamers and antibodies. They are particularly efficient in terms of production and stability in physiological environments; in recent years, they have been increasingly studied as targeting agents for several diseases, from tumors to central nervous system disorders, also thanks to the ability of some of them to cross the blood–brain barrier. In this review, we will describe the techniques employed for their experimental and in silico design, as well as their possible applications. We will also discuss advancements in their formulation and chemical modifications that make them even more stable and effective. Finally, we will discuss how their use could effectively help to overcome various physiological problems and improve existing treatments.

Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan menjelasakan bagaimana pola komunikasi anak-anak delinkuen di keluarga broken home. Topik ini dipilih karena melihat fenomena yang ada tentang anak-anak yang berperilaku menyimpang karena ada di keluarga broken home, anak-anak yang merasa kurang kasih sayang dari orang tua mereka karena perceraian dari orang tua sehingga anak memilih untuk mencari kesenangan di luar rumah, tetapi perilaku menyimpang yang di dapat karena kurang nya pengawasan dari orang tua. Teori yang digunakan pada penelitian ini yaitu konstruksi sosial.Penelitian ini menggunakan medote kualitatif dengan subjek tiga karakter anak delinkuen pada keluarga broken home dan satu orang tua dari anak delinkuen. Data diperoleh melalui wawancara langsung dan mendalam dengan subjek. Analisis data dilakukan mulai dari awal, proses hingga akhir.Hasil penelitian menunjukan pola komunikasi yang dihasilkan adalah bentuk komunikasi yang terjadi antara anak dengan orangtua adalah bentuk komunikasi antar persona. Secara umum komunikasi antar persona (KAP) dapat diartikan sebagai suatu proses pertukaran makna antara orang-orang yang saling berkomunikasi.

GALC-loaded nanoparticles can reinstate enzymatic activity in the brain of the mouse model of Krabbe disease., Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) result from an enzyme deficiency within lysosomes. The systemic administration of the missing enzyme, however, is not effective in the case of LSDs with central nervous system (CNS)-involvement. Here, an enzyme delivery system based on the encapsulation of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) into poly-(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with brain targeting peptides (Ang2, g7 or Tf2) is demonstrated for Krabbe disease, a neurodegenerative LSD caused by galactosylceramidase (GALC) deficiency. We first synthesize and characterize Ang2-, g7- and Tf2-targeted GALC CLEA NPs. We study NP cell trafficking and capability to reinstate enzymatic activity in vitro. Then, we successfully test our formulations in the Twitcher mouse. We report enzymatic activity measurements in the nervous system and in accumulation districts upon intraperitoneal injections, demonstrating activity recovery in the brain up to the unaffected mice level. Together, these results open new therapeutic perspectives for all LSDs with major CNS-involvement.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising (co)treatment with translation potentiality in oncology. Nowadays, the plasmonic nanoparticle-mediated photothermal effect (PT) relies on two well established NIR-responsive platforms: gold nanorods and nanoshells. Nonetheless, these nanostructures are affected by: (i) re-shaping after irradiation that prevents multiple PT treatments, and (ii) severe limitations to clinical translation due to metal persistence issues. Furthermore, evaluation of nanoparticle performance is usually accomplished in vitro or in mouse models, reducing the translational potential of the findings. Here, we report both the straightforward production of narrow-NIR-absorbing gold ultrasmall-in-nano architectures (tNAs) and their suitability as platforms for PT upon CW-irradiation at 808 nm. PT efficiency is fully assessed against 2D cell cultures and customized 3D pancreatic adenocarcinoma models. Remarkably, the morphology of the tNAs is not affected by laser irradiation, allowing for repeated PT cycles and preserving their ability to avoid long-term body persistence in excretory system organs.

The transferrin receptor (TfR) is a promising target in cancer therapy owing to its overexpression in most solid tumors and on the blood-brain barrier. Nanostructures chemically derivatized with transferrin are employed in TfR targeting but often lose their functionality upon injection in the bloodstream. As an alternative strategy, we rationally designed a peptide coating able to bind transferrin on suitable pockets not involved in binding to TfR or iron by using an iterative multiscale-modeling approach coupled with quantitative structure-activity and relationship (QSAR) analysis and evolutionary algorithms. We tested that selected sequences have low aspecific protein adsorption and high binding energy toward transferrin, and one of them is efficiently internalized in cells with a transferrin-dependent pathway. Furthermore, it promotes transferrin-mediated endocytosis of gold nanoparticles by modifying their protein corona and promoting oriented adsorption of transferrin. This strategy leads to highly effective nanostructures, potentially useful in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, which exploit (and do not suffer) the protein solvation for achieving a better targeting.