scope:

One of the major problems with drug delivery is the inability of large hydrophilic compounds to pass through the lipid membrane of the cell, thus making drugs such as polypeptides and oligonucleotides of limited therapeutic value. Until recently, the transport of such molecules into the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of living cells seemed a far off goal. Hence, the discovery that peptides derived from the HIV Tat protein and homeodomain of the Antennapedia transcription factor (penetratin) can translocate across the plasma membrane of live cells has opened up exciting new possibilities in biomedical research.
This book fills the need for a comprehensive update of the research concerning these specialized peptides, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), to which the drug molecule can attach and pass through the cell membrane. Divided into three parts, Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Processes and Applications covers classes of cell-penetrating peptides; mechanisms of cell penetration, interactions of cell-penetrating peptides with plasma membranes, and lipid models; and applications of cell-penetrating peptides. These divisions cover all information from basic biochemistry to clinical application, including a clear description of the general rules for cellular uptake of the transport peptides. The overview of work in this area will lead to better designed novel transport peptides to achieve the more successful application of CPPs in research and therapy.