pH-responsive drug-loaded peptides enhance drug accumulation and promote apoptosis in tumor cells.

The efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in tumor treatment is limited by their toxicity and side effects due to their inability to selectively accumulate in tumor tissue. In addition, chemotherapeutic agents are easily pumped out of tumor cells, resulting in their inadequate accumulation. To overcome these challenges, a drug delivery system utilizing the amphiphilic peptide Pep1 was designed. Pep1 can self-assemble into spherical nanoparticles (PL/Pep1) and encapsulate paclitaxel (PTX) and lapatinib (LAP). PL/Pep1 transformed into nanofibers in an acidic environment, resulting in longer drug retention and higher drug concentrations within tumor cells. Ultimately, PL/Pep1 inhibited tumor angiogenesis and enhanced tumor cell apoptosis. The use of shape-changing peptides as drug carriers to enhance cancer cell apoptosis is promising.