New Method Finds Peptides That Can Both Target and Penetrate Specific Tissues
Combining phage display with microdialysis selects for peptides that not only home to specific organs but also penetrate tissue to reach target cells.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Combining in vivo phage display with microdialysis-based parenchymal recovery enables selection of peptides capable of both vascular homing and tissue penetration.
Key Numbers
Demonstrated in skin wounds (vascularized and diabetic) and retinopathy models. Combined phage display with microdialysis-based parenchymal recovery and high-throughput sequencing.
How They Did This
Novel screening approach combining in vivo phage display with microdialysis and high-throughput sequencing to identify peptides with dual homing and tissue-penetrating capabilities.
Why This Research Matters
Many drug delivery peptides can find the right organ but cannot get drugs deep enough into tissue. This method solves that problem by selecting for both properties simultaneously.
The Bigger Picture
This methodology could accelerate the development of truly targeted drug delivery systems that reach disease-relevant cells, not just the right organ's blood vessels.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Proof-of-concept methodology. The selected peptides need to be validated individually for therapeutic applications. Microdialysis recovery rates may introduce selection bias.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which specific tissue-penetrating peptides were identified using this combined approach?
- ?Can this method be applied to identify tumor-penetrating peptides for cancer drug delivery?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Dual selection capability The combined method selects for peptides with both organ-homing and tissue-penetrating properties — a key advance over standard phage display
- Evidence Grade:
- Methodological advance with proof-of-concept demonstration. The approach is novel and promising but requires extensive validation for therapeutic applications.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025, introducing a new screening methodology for targeted drug delivery peptides.
- Original Title:
- Screening of homing and tissue-penetrating peptides by microdialysis and in vivo phage display.
- Published In:
- Life science alliance, 8(5) (2025)
- Authors:
- Pemmari, Toini, Prince, Stuart, Wiss, Niklas, Kõiv, Kuldar, May, Ulrike, Mölder, Tarmo, Sudakov, Aleksander, Munoz Caro, Fernanda, Lehtonen, Soili, Uusitalo-Järvinen, Hannele, Teesalu, Tambet, Järvinen, Tero Ah
- Database ID:
- RPEP-13008
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is phage display?
Phage display is a technique where billions of different peptides are displayed on the surface of viruses (phages). When injected into an animal, phages carrying peptides that bind to a specific organ accumulate there, allowing researchers to identify organ-targeting peptides.
Why is tissue penetration important for drug delivery?
Many diseases (especially cancer) require drugs to reach cells deep within tissue, not just the blood vessels. A peptide that homes to an organ but stays in the blood vessels cannot deliver drugs to where they are most needed.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13008APA
Pemmari, Toini; Prince, Stuart; Wiss, Niklas; Kõiv, Kuldar; May, Ulrike; Mölder, Tarmo; Sudakov, Aleksander; Munoz Caro, Fernanda; Lehtonen, Soili; Uusitalo-Järvinen, Hannele; Teesalu, Tambet; Järvinen, Tero Ah. (2025). Screening of homing and tissue-penetrating peptides by microdialysis and in vivo phage display.. Life science alliance, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202201490
MLA
Pemmari, Toini, et al. "Screening of homing and tissue-penetrating peptides by microdialysis and in vivo phage display.." Life science alliance, 2025. https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202201490
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Screening of homing and tissue-penetrating peptides by micro..." RPEP-13008. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/pemmari-2025-screening-of-homing-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.