Bee Venom Peptides Could be Drug Targeting Delivery System

Preparation and In Vitro Tumor Cells Selectivity of Sterically Stabilized Immunoliposomal Peptides in Bee Venom
Yao Xue Xue Bao, 2007 Nov;42(11):1201-5

Abstract: Recently the use of peptides in bee venom (PBV) for cancer therapy has attracted considerable attention.

In this study, the sterically stabilized liposomal PBV (PBV-SL) was prepared using soybean phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and cholesterol-PEG-COOH. The humanized antihepatoma disulfide-stabilized Fv (hdscFv25) was coupled to sterically stabilized liposomes using the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester method. The hdscFv25-immunoliposomes (SIL[hdscFv25]) were immunoreactive as determined by ELISA assay. SIL[hdscFv25] showed higher tumor cells selectivity. PBV-SIL[hdscFv25] can kill SMMC-7721 cells in vitro with higher efficiency than non-targeted liposomes. Whereas cytotoxicties were compared for Hela cells, no significant differences was observed between PBV-SIL[hdscFv25] and PBV-SL.

Sterically stabilized immunoliposomal peptides in bee venom could be one drug targeting delivery system.