Dexamethasone loaded r3v6 peptide micelles for gene delivery

Abstract

R3V6 peptides, which were composed of 3 arginines and 6 valines, formed self-assembled micelles in an aqueous solution. To improve the transfection efficiency of the R3V6 peptide micelles, a hydrophobic drug, dexamethasone was loaded into the core of the R3V6 peptide micelles. In vitro transfection assay showed that the dexamethasone-loaded R3V6 peptide micelles deliver DNA more effectively than the R3V6 micelles. In addition, the dexamethasone-loaded R3V6 micelles reduced the IL-6 levels in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated macrophage cells.