HPV L2 protein derived endosomal escape enhancers

Abstract

Delivery of macromolecular therapeutics, and specifically their endosomal escape is one of the challenges in the medicine. Although there are several delivery methods developed, there is still a need to overcome the challenges associated with endosomal entrapment. In this work HPV16 L2 protein and peptides derived from this protein were applied for in-creasing transfection efficacy of CPP mediated delivery of nucleic acid. For this, peptides derived from HPV L2 protein specific regions, that are responsible for L2 mediated endo-somal trafficking of viral DNA were tested. Both L2 protein and new synthesised peptides showed promising results for applying them as additives to the CPP/NA nanoparticles for therapeutic use and protein production in the future.