The project aimed to develop special molecules, called cell penetrating peptides (CPPs), which are chemical derivatives of a natural protein called buforin, known for its antimicrobial properties. The aim of these peptides was to improve the antimicrobial and anticancer effects of the basic protein, while maintaining efficiency but reducing production costs. CPPs can be used to deliver drugs directly into cancer cells or to fight microbial infections.
The peptides were created by modern chemical synthesis methods, purified and then rigorously analyzed to verify their composition and purity. They have been tested against bacteria and fungi, demonstrating remarkable antimicrobial activity. In vitro experiments on cancer cells (e.g. mammary, multiple myeloma, acute leukemia), some of these peptides showed selective toxicity leading to cell death. However, these peptides showed no toxicity to the normal cells tested.
The results have shown that CPPs may have important applications in medicine, both as treatments against infections and as innovative solutions for anticancer therapies. This project opens new perspectives for the development of effective, affordable and personalized therapies that combine antimicrobial and anticancer treatments with targeted drug delivery directly into cells.
Within the project, 4 articles have been published in WOS-Clarivate indexed journals, one article indexed in IDB, and three manuscripts are submitted and under review in WOS indexed journals. The project team presented a total of 31 oral or poster presentations at international conferences, both at home and abroad. Two awards, one for best oral presentation and one for best poster, were obtained for papers presented at international conferences.