Nano chitosan peptide as a potential therapeutic carrier for retinal delivery to treat age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: We describe the synthesis and use of an efficient nano carrier molecule for retinal delivery of a nano chitosan peptide that has potential application for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We chose serine-threonine-tyrosine as the peptide sequence because it is well known to act as a transduction signaling agent within and between retinal pigmented epithelium cells. METHODS: A nanoformulation of a water-soluble chitosan conjugated with a peptide (serine-threonine-tyrosine) was synthesized by a method developed in our laboratory and characterized with dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The in vitro efficacy of the formulation was evaluated in retinal cells with confocal microscopy by studying the formulation’s action on tyrosine kinase activity. RESULTS: The conjugated nano chitosan peptide showed evidence of tyrosine kinase activity as seen by fluorescent signals under confocal microscopy, while nano chitosan or peptide alone did not show such activity. CONCLUSIONS: Conjugated nano chitosan peptide may promote binding and engulfment. This molecule is an excellent carrier for retinal drug delivery and has the potential to treat age-related macular degeneration.