Phenylalanine-containing self-assembling peptide nanofibrous hydrogel for the controlled release of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin

In the present study, we report a phenylalanine (Phe)-containing self-assembling peptide nanofibrous material (RATEA-F8) for the delivery of the drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), which exhibit synergistic actions against colon cancer. Solid phase peptide synthesis, followed by morphological characterisation of the material, depicts a facile formation of nanofiber in a time-dependent manner. Structural analysis and physical characterisation of the material were performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), circular dichriosm, spectrofluorimetry and oscillatory rheology. The in vitro release was also studied for 5-FU, LV and a model molecule namely Phe. The facile cellular uptake (monitored using confocal microscopy) and significant amount of cytotoxicity displayed by the drug entrapped peptide nano material further confirms the efficacy of the developed system for the drug delivery purpose.