Targeting lipodisks enable selective delivery of anticancer peptides to tumor cells

We report that the specificity and cytotoxicity of melittin to tumor cells can be increased by use of targeting lipodisk. Small (~20 nm) EGF-targeted lipodisks can be produced and loaded with substantial amounts of peptide (lipid/peptide molar ratio > 7) by means of a simple and straightforward preparation protocol. In vitro cell studies confirm specific binding of the peptide-loaded disks to tumor cells and suggest that cellular internalization of the disks results in a significantly improved cell-killing effect.102