The Power Of Peptides: 7 Applications In Scientific Exploration
Peptide science is one of the groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and the foundation for numerous applications. Peptides play a crucial role in scientific exploration across various fields due to their biocompatibility in organisms.
The peptide synthesis market is worth $US 601 million in 2023, and projections predict a 7.4% compounded annual growth rate by 2028. The report highlights the demand for peptides due to technological advances and rising investment in research among the factors driving peptide market growth.
So, what makes peptide science a continuing source of inspiration for solutions in biochemistry? Keep reading to explore significant peptide applications.
1. Drug Discovery, Design And Development
Drug discovery is part of translational medicine and entails identifying potential therapeutic agents. It engages researchers through four processes in which Peptide Synthesis facilitates a steady peptide supply.
• Early drug discovery
• Pre-clinical phase
• Clinical phase
• Regulatory approval
Although peptide drug discovery dates back to the early 1920s with the isolation of insulin for diabetes patients, it has witnessed significant developments due to advances in recombinant DNA technology. Consequently, peptide-based drug discovery is important in developing and designing peptide therapeutic agents over small molecule drugs and biologics.
Small molecule drugs are organic compounds that target proteins and other signaling entities to effect change along physiological pathways; most oral drugs fall within this category. However, while their small molecular size for high permeability and oral bioavailability work in their favor, small molecule drugs have low specificity and high toxicity due to higher accumulation levels in tissue.
On the other hand, while biologics, predominantly protein drugs, have low toxicity, they have low oral availability and permeability. Therefore, scientific explorations into peptides in drug discovery and design created a drug class that bridges the gap between small molecule drugs and biologics.
The advantages of peptides in drug discovery include:
• Specificity
• A higher binding affinity
• Low toxicity and tissue accumulation
• Higher drug efficacy
Peptides as next-generation drugs, one peptide drug database highlights 114 peptides approved for theranostic applications. Moreover, more research is underway to overcome the oral bioavailability challenge with peptide drugs.
2. Drug Delivery Systems
Drug delivery systems are technologies, formulations, or devices that facilitate a therapeutic substance’s administration and transportation in the body to a selectively targeted site. However, due to the lack of a targeting capacity, the selectivity element remains a significant challenge for small molecule drug delivery systems.
Moreover, while small molecule drugs use nanocarriers to enhance their bioavailability, such carriers pose an increased risk of particle aggregation and toxicity in the body. However, peptide drug delivery systems help overcome both challenges.
Peptide-based drug delivery systems like peptide nanoparticle conjugates and peptide drug conjugates enhance a drug’s permeability and selectivity. The selectivity element is crucial in preserving healthy cells during therapeutics.
3. Therapeutics
Therapeutics is a medical sub-field encompassing the prevention, treatment, and management of diseases and illnesses to preserve patient’s quality of life. It encompasses everything from vaccines to drugs, surgical procedures, diagnostic tools, and mechanical devices to enhance well-being.
Peptide research in drug discovery and immunology has enhanced therapeutics in multiple ways. For example, peptide antibodies have helped lower monoclonal antibody production costs, making peptide vaccines readily available.
Second, antibody-drug conjugates and theranostics that combine antibody peptides with radiotracers are emerging as efficacious therapies for hormonal and solid-tumor cancers. The specificity element in peptide drugs and delivery systems makes peptide-based anti-cancer strategies less aggressive than traditional therapies.
4. Bioactive Peptides As Food Preservatives, Functional Foods, And Nutraceuticals
According to one publication, microbial hazards and food oxidation are the primary challenges in industrial-scale food preservation.
The publication also highlights the mounting pressure key food industry players face to eliminate chemical food preservatives from their production processes. It also highlights bioactive preservatives among the most successful strategies in adopting chemical-free food preservation.
Bioactive peptides have bacteriostatic properties that halt bacterial cell proliferation. Moreover, they also have antioxidant properties that prevent food rot via oxidation. Food protein bioactive properties, including those highlighted above, qualify such peptides as nutraceuticals offering numerous health and wellness benefits.
5. Self-assembling Peptides In Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is a sub-field that utilizes tissue engineering and other life science elements to restore function in damaged cells, tissues, and organs via self-healing and self-repair.
It uses scaffolding materials such as polymers to form 3D structures that guide tissue regeneration. However, scaffolding materials have intrinsic challenges, including immunogenic reactions, risk of infection, and mechanical failure.
Fortunately, peptide science presents self-assembling peptides among the biological scaffolding compounds that overcome such challenges. Moreover, self-assembling peptides respond to environmental changes and have mechanical properties and degradation rates that support the growth and differentiation of the host tissue.
6. Peptides In Cosmetics
Bioactive peptides have significant applications in the cosmetic industry. According to a survey, bioactive peptide prevalence in cosmetic products stood at 25%, with most of the survey products having multiple peptides.
The biological properties of such peptides, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties, help enhance skin health and appearance.
7. Venom Peptide Research
Venom from snakes, spiders, and scorpions, while highly toxic to prey, has pharmacological significance. While animal venom contains various biological compounds, research shows peptide venom is the most aggressive compound, especially across ion channels.
Given the dangers of extracting venom directly from the host animal, peptide synthesis facilitates the generation of venom-derived peptides to study its therapeutic prospects. One publication on the therapeutic potential of venom peptides highlights their potential in treating diabetes, pain, MS, and cardiovascular diseases.
Conclusion
Peptide research is the next frontier in various research fields geared toward improving life expectancy and quality. The peptide research applications highlighted above are but a sneak peek into the potential-filled peptide world. Peptide synthesis companies offer more information on the endless possibilities peptides offer.
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