Overcoming the Stromal Barrier of the Cornea with a Peptide Conjugate Nano-assembly to Combat Fungal Keratitis.

Fungal hyphae deeply invade the cornea in fungal keratitis. The corneal stroma hinders the infiltration of antifungal drugs and reduces their bioavailability. Here we report a peptide conjugate nano-assembly that permeates the stroma and kills the pathogen without irritating the ocular cornea. The hydrophilic surface of the nano-assembly ensures deep permeation into the stroma. When encountering a fungal hyphal cell, the nano-assembly disassembles and exposes the α-helical peptide to destroy the fungal membrane, thus inactivating the pathogen. In a rabbit model of fungal keratitis, the nano-assembly exhibits a better therapeutic effect than commercially available natamycin ophthalmic suspension. Peptide conjugates with a nano-assembled structure and assembly-disassembly behavior could serve as the foundation of a new therapy for fungal keratitis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.