Synthesis and characterization of bioconjugates containing peptides with antitumor activity

• Grant number: 15/23095-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Maffud Cilli
• Grantee: Danyelle Trevisan de Macedo Dias
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07600-3 - CIBFar - Center for Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Due to the low therapeutic index of cancer treatment, various researches have been conducted for the development of methods/molecules that allow cheaper therapies, faster and less uncomfortable for patients with the disease. In this project, a peptide aptamer, an antimicrobial peptide and a thiosemicarbazone be used as molecules in the development of bioconjugates, in order to increase the specificity and anti-tumor activity of these compounds. In this context, thiosemicarbazone and antimicrobial peptide will be used as antitumor compounds, while the peptide aptamer is responsible for promoting specificity against the tumor cells. For the development of this project, the following methods will be used: peptide solid phase synthesis, purification and characterization of the peptides by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/HPLC), mass spectrometry test of viability/cell proliferation and microscopy. We expect this work to develop anticancer molecules with high specificity and activity.