@article {8862,
	title = {Advancements in peptide-based antimicrobials: A possible option for emerging drug-resistant infections [C-CAMP BIG Grantee/Startup]},
	journal = {Adv Colloid Interface Sci},
	volume = {333},
	year = {2024},
	month = {2024 Sep 06},
	pages = {103282},
	abstract = {<p>In recent years, multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms (MDROs) have emerged as a severe threat to human health, exhibiting robust resistance to traditional antibiotics. This has created a formidable challenge in modern medicine as we grapple with limited options to combat these resilient bacteria. Despite extensive efforts by scientists to develop new antibiotics targeting these pathogens, the quest for novel antibacterial molecules has become increasingly arduous. Fortunately, nature offers a potential solution in the form of cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic counterparts. AMPs, naturally occurring peptides, have displayed promising efficacy in fighting bacterial infections by disrupting bacterial cell membranes, hindering their survival and reproduction. These peptides, along with their synthetic mimics, present an exciting alternative in combating antibiotic resistance. They hold the potential to emerge as a formidable tool against MDROs, offering hope for improved strategies to protect communities. Extensive research has explored the diversity, history, and structure-properties relationship of AMPs, investigating their amphiphilic nature for membrane disruption and mechanisms of action. However, despite their therapeutic promise, AMPs face several documented limitations. Among these challenges, poor pharmacokinetic properties stand out, impeding the attainment of therapeutic levels in the body. Additionally, some AMPs exhibit toxicity and susceptibility to protease cleavage, leading to a short half-life and reduced efficacy in animal models. These limitations pose obstacles in developing effective treatments based on AMPs. Furthermore, the high manufacturing costs associated with AMPs could significantly hinder their widespread use. In this review, we aim to present experimental and theoretical insights into different AMPs, focusing specifically on antibacterial peptides (ABPs). Our goal is to offer a concise overview of peptide-based drug candidates, drawing from a wide array of literature and peer-reviewed studies. We also explore recent advancements in AMP development and discuss the challenges researchers face in moving these molecules towards clinical trials. Our main objective is to offer a comprehensive overview of current AMP and ABP research to guide the development of more precise and effective therapies for bacterial infections.</p>
},
	issn = {1873-3727},
	doi = {10.1016/j.cis.2024.103282},
	author = {Yadav, Nitin and Chauhan, Virander S}
}
@article {7323,
	title = {Ultrashort Peptide-Based Hydrogel for the Healing of Critical Bone Defects in Rabbits [C-CAMP BIG Grantee/Startup]},
	journal = {ACS Appl Mater Interfaces},
	year = {2022},
	month = {2022 Nov 19},
	abstract = {<p>The use of hydrogels as scaffolds for three-dimensional (3D) cell growth is an active area of research in tissue engineering. Herein, we report the self-assembly of an ultrashort peptide, a tetrapeptide, Asp-Leu-IIe-IIe, the shortest peptide sequence from a highly fibrillogenic protein TDP-43, into the hydrogel. The hydrogel was mechanically strong and highly stable, with storage modulus values in MPa ranges. The hydrogel supported the proliferation and successful differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in its matrix as assessed by cell viability, calcium deposition, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and the expression of osteogenic marker gene studies. To check whether the hydrogel supports 3D growth and regeneration in conditions, a rabbit critical bone defect model was used. Micro-computed tomography (CT) and X-ray analysis demonstrated the formation of mineralized neobone in the defect areas, with significantly higher bone mineralization and relative bone densities in animals treated with the peptide hydrogel compared to nontreated and matrigel treatment groups. The ultrashort peptide-based hydrogel developed in this work holds great potential for its further development as tissue regeneration and/or engineering scaffolds.</p>
},
	issn = {1944-8252},
	doi = {10.1021/acsami.2c18733},
	author = {Yadav, Nitin and Kumar, Utkarsh and Roopmani, Purandhi and Krishnan, Uma Maheswari and Sethuraman, Swaminathan and Chauhan, Meenakshi K and Chauhan, Virander S}
}
