Page 103 - CSIR-IGIB Annual Report 2020-21

Nanodrug delivery and antimicrobial agents cytotoxicity. The same conjugates were shown to
Peptide-polymer conjugates have been shown to encapsulate a model hydrophobic molecule in the
be a promising class of amphiphilic biomaterials hydrophobic core with high entrapment and
wherein peptides are used as a hydrophobic or loading efficiency. The release was found to be in
hydrophilic segment facilitating the process of a sustained manner with higher degree of release
molecular self-assembly. Polymers, on the other under neutral conditions (pH 7.4) advocating the
hand, are heterogeneous materials with variable potential of such materials for colonic delivery of
chain length, composition, hydrophilic / drugs. Our group has also been working on to
hydrophobic in nature. It is envisaged that develop polymeric nanoconjugates as efficient
combining these two can lead to the formation of antimicrobials. For confronting the global issue of
novel biomaterials where the peptide segment AMR, development of new classes of biologically
may confer increased control over the nanoscale as well as chemically synthesized compounds with
structural features and toxicity, and the polymer profound anti-bacterial/microbial activity, is the
segment may help in reducing immunogenicity need of the hour. Such antimicrobials are required
and prevent enzymatic degradation by acting as a to kill the resistant bacteria by one or the
link between peptide and the external combination of the mechanisms. Recently, use of
environment. Modified peptides with more bactericidal polymers or combination therapy has
rigidity and stability under cellular environment attracted the attention where two antibiotics are
can overcome the concerns associated with the co-administered or antibiotics along with an
natural counterparts. Our group has been able to activity enhancer. Our group has tried to explore
demonstrate the applications of such biomaterials the potential of polydopamine-aminoglycoside
in the area of drug delivery including nucleic acid- conjugates for this purpose. The nanosized
based therapeutics. These amphiphilic polymer- conjugates showed excellent biological activity not
peptide conjugates acquired core-shell type of only against clinical isolates but also against
nanostructures in aqueous medium and resistant strains without exhibiting cytotoxicity
transported the nucleic acids inside the cells with suggesting the promising potential of these
high transfection efficiency without exerting nanoconjugates.

Publications
Ultrashort peptide self-assembly: Front-runners to transport drug and gene cargos. Gupta S, Singh I, Sharma AK, Kumar
P. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020 May 29;8:504.

In vitro assessment of core-shell micellar nanostructures of amphiphilic cationic polymer-peptide conjugates as efficient
gene and drug carriers. Garg C, Priyam A, Kumar P, Sharma AK, Gupta A. J Pharm Sci. 2020 Sep;109(9):2847-2853.
Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles: Evaluation of Their Biological and Catalytic Potential. Sharma B, Singh I, Bajar S, Gupta S,
Gautam H, Kumar P. Indian J Microbiol. 2020 Dec;60(4):468-474.

Supramolecular self-assemblies of engineered polyethylenimines as multifunctional nanostructures for DNA
transportation with excellent antimicrobial activity. Singh R, Jha D, Gautam HK, Kumar P. Bioorg Chem. 2021
Jan;106:104463.Recent Advances in a Polydopamine-Mediated Antimicrobial Adhesion System. Singh I, Dhawan G,
Gupta S, Kumar P. Front Microbiol. 2021 Jan 12;11:607099.

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