PVBLG150-8

PVBLG150-8 is a synthetic, cationic helical polypeptide designed for the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, such as siRNA and plasmid DNA, into target cells. It is a derivative of poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PVBLG) with a degree of polymerization of approximately 150, where the benzyl side chains are modified with 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine (designated as amine '8' in screening libraries). Unlike traditional cationic polymers that often lose their secondary structure upon interaction with membranes or changes in pH, PVBLG150-8 maintains a stable alpha-helical conformation. This structural rigidity allows the polypeptide to penetrate cellular membranes directly and promote endosomal escape of the genetic cargo via a membrane-disruptive mechanism. Developed primarily in the laboratory of Jianjun Cheng at the University of Illinois, PVBLG150-8 has shown significant promise in preclinical cancer models for the systemic delivery of therapeutic genes, demonstrating high transfection efficiency and relatively low cytotoxicity compared to conventional vectors like polyethylenimine (PEI).

Other names

poly(gamma-(4-((2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethyl)aminomethyl)benzyl)-L-glutamate)cationic helical polypeptide PVBLG-8