cR11A

cR11A is a cyclic cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) specifically engineered to target alveolar epithelial type II (AT2) cells in the lung. It is a 12-amino-acid peptide (sequence: APWHLSSQYSAT) that has been modified with an N-terminal lysine and head-to-tail cyclization to enhance stability and intracellular uptake. Developed by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, cR11A was identified through phage display and alanine scanning of a cardiomyocyte-targeting peptide. Preclinical studies in healthy and bleomycin-induced fibrotic mouse models have demonstrated that cR11A maintains high specificity and robust uptake in AT2 cells, even within diseased lung tissue. The peptide is intended to serve as a delivery vehicle for various macromolecular payloads to the distal airway epithelium for the treatment of conditions like pulmonary fibrosis.

Other names

cyclic R11AAPWHLSSQYSAT