# Collagen Hybrid Peptides and Facilitators in Targeting-Free Cell Selection and Uptake of Maliganant Cells

> **NIH NIH SC3** · CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH · 2020 · $110,625

## Abstract

Summary
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Many of the cancer drugs exhibit systemic
and non-selective toxicity to all tissues. To limit systemic toxicity of cancer drugs, chemical and biological
targeting has been proposed. In targeted approaches, the drugs are delivered to a specific location (i.e. only
cancer cells) using targeting moieties, such as antibodies, aptamers, small protein scaffolds, peptides, and
small molecule ligands. Currently, targeted methods are in clinical use and under investigation; however,
success has been limited.
The goal of this proposal is to develop a new, generic, targeting-free drug delivery method for localized cancer
that in the future can result in more effective and less toxic treatments than current methodologies. Our
approach relies on cell selection process controlled by externally induced temperature difference between the
targeted cells and the adjacent cells. Drug delivery is facilitated by a peptide-based drug carrier, specifically
designed to fold into triple helical conformation at temperatures lower than 37C and penetrate cellular
membrane only when folded. Thus, when in a coiled, non-helical conformation (above 37C), the peptide
cannot be internalized by the cells (OFF switch). When the temperature is lower than the folding temperature,
the peptide will undergo coil-to-helix transition and assemble into triple helix. The peptide in the helical
conformation can be internalized by the cell (ON switch). In addition we propose to develop cooling device
that can externally-induce temperature difference between the targeted cells and the adjacent cells to assist
with the temperature-responsive peptide nanocarrier uptake to malignant cells.
This proposal aims to establish thermal discrimination conditions of nanocarrier delivery to selected cancer
cells (MCF-7, A495, FaDu), determine peptide nanocarrier folding kinetics and correlate it with cellular uptake.
This aim will be accomplished using Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and the flow chamber equipped
with syringe pump to mimic conditions in vivo. In addition, we aim to design and test cooling device to locally
control temperature gradient to assist the delivery.
The developmental objective is to increase the PI's involvement in interdisciplinary research directly related to
human health and to increase the productivity of the PI laboratory. The requested support will result in the
development of new methodologies and protocols that incorporate many scientific fields, including synthetic
chemistry, cell biology, and engineering. This will directly increase participation of graduate (MS) and
undergraduate students, including students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. This SC3
support, if awarded, will increase the PI's research output and improve competitiveness for major grant
support such as NSF and NIH-RO1 type grants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9933002
- **Project number:** 5SC3GM099594-07
- **Recipient organization:** CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH
- **Principal Investigator:** Katarzyna Slowinska
- **Activity code:** SC3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $110,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-04-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9933002

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9933002, Collagen Hybrid Peptides and Facilitators in Targeting-Free Cell Selection and Uptake of Maliganant Cells (5SC3GM099594-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9933002. Licensed CC0.

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