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Biocompatible Porphyrin-Peptide Conjugates as Theranostic Agents Targeting the Epstein-Barr Virus

  • Xiong Li (Co-first Author)
  • , Chen Xie (Co-first Author)
  • , Shuai Zha
  • , Wing Sze Tam
  • , Mingjun Jiang
  • , Ka-Leung Wong*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common human-infected virus related to many diseases and cancers. Recently, some peptides have been found to serve targeting and therapeutic roles by inhibiting EBNA1, an oncoprotein of the EBV. We herein report the conjugation of the EBNA1-targeting peptides and porphyrins which can bring synergistic effects by both introducing more specific treatments (photodynamic therapy) and improving the biocompatibility of the photosensitizer and the peptides. One of our compounds exhibited significant photo-cytotoxicity where the Lethal Concentration 50 (LC50)=6.1 μM in EBV-positive cells. Besides, in vitro cell imaging and co-staining can also be achieved simultaneously and suggested the binding inside nucleus. © 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere202200184
JournalChemPlusChem
Volume87
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2022
Externally publishedYes

Funding

Financial assistance from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council Grant No. 1230019, Dr. Mok Man Hung Endowed Professorship in Chemistry, HKBU – Durham Lanthanide Joint Research Center – Lanthanide, and from Health and Medical Research Fund 2019/2020 (18170022). Tools for Systems Medicine (SDF19-1011-P02) and the Centre for Medical Engineering of Molecular and Biological Probes (AoE/M-401/20) are gratefully acknowledged (K.-L.W.).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

  • cell imaging
  • Epstein-Barr virus
  • photodynamic therapy
  • porphyrin
  • singlet oxygen

RGC Funding Information

  • RGC-funded

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