Chapter Five Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Nanoparticles for Diagnostics and for Controlled and Targeted Drug Delivery

Publication date: 2015 Source:Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology, Volume 98 Author(s): Rebecca Klippstein , David Pozo Neuropeptides are potentially valuable tools for clinical applications as they offer many distinct advantages over other bioactive molecules like proteins and monoclonal antibodies due to their reduced side effects and simple chemical modifications. Despite such advantages, the difficulty with neuropeptides often relies on their poor metabolic stability and reduced biological activity intervals. Among the neuropeptides, VIP has been identified as a potentially bioactive agent for inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and cancer-related diseases. However, the effective translation of preclinical studies related to VIP to clinical realities faces several major challenges, most of which are commonplace for other neuropeptides. Here, we present recent studies aimed at developing nanostructured organic and inorganic systems either for the appropriate delivery of VIP or for VIP targeting. These technologies stand as an alternative starting point for chemical manipulations of the neuropeptides in order to improve potency, selectivity, or pharmacokinetic parameters.
Source: Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research