Pioneering Venom Technologies from past to Future...

Scorpion venom, with its hundreds of different bioactive peptides (small proteins), can be used as a targeting tool in gene therapy. Some of these peptides have the ability to bind specifically to certain cell types, such as cancer cells or neurons.

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This opens up a new avenue for both viral and non-viral vectors used in gene therapy, by incorporating venom peptides into them. For example:

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• Targeting Tumor Cells: Peptides isolated from scorpion venom, such as chlorotoxin, have been shown to bind specifically to brain tumor (glioma) cells. This unique property could enable gene therapy vectors to deliver genetic material only to tumor cells without harming healthy ones, thereby increasing the treatment's effectiveness while minimizing side effects.

• Nervous System Diseases: Certain neurotoxins found in scorpion venom bind to specific ion channels on the surface of nerve cells. This property could be used to direct gene therapy vectors to nervous system cells for the treatment of neurological disorders like Huntington's disease or ALS.

The role of scorpion venom in cancer treatment is based on two main mechanisms: targeting and apoptosis (programmed cell death) induction.

 

1. Targeting

Some peptides derived from scorpion venom have the ability to selectively bind to specific molecules or receptors on the surface of cancer cells. This property is crucial for targeted therapies, which aim to increase the treatment's effectiveness while minimizing damage to healthy cells.

• Chlorotoxin: This peptide is one of the most well-known oncological components of scorpion venom. It has been shown to bind to chloride channels on the surface of brain tumor (glioma) cells, which can inhibit the migration and invasion of tumor cells. Thanks to this targeting ability, chlorotoxin is also being used to image cancerous tissue and as a carrier to deliver drugs to this tissue.

 

2. Apoptosis Induction

Certain scorpion venom peptides can directly enter cancer cells and trigger apoptosis. Apoptosis is a natural process the body uses to get rid of damaged or unwanted cells. Cancer cells tend to evade this mechanism, but venom peptides can help break this resistance.

• CTX (Cardiotoxin): In many studies, CTX-like peptides have been observed to induce apoptosis in various types of cancer (breast, liver, lung, etc.), slowing down or halting tumor growth.

Drug delivery involves getting a drug to the right target, at the right time, and in the right dose to maximize its effectiveness and minimize side effects. Peptides derived from scorpion venom can be used as smart carriers in this process.

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• Intracellular Targeting: Some peptides from scorpion venom can selectively bind to specific molecules on the surface of cancer cells. By adding these peptides to nanotechnological tools (like nanoparticles) that carry therapeutic payloads such as chemotherapy drugs or gene therapy materials, the drug can be delivered only to the diseased cells. This significantly reduces the side effects caused by the drug's systemic distribution.

• Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier: One of the biggest challenges in conditions like brain tumors and neurological diseases is that drugs cannot cross the Blood-Brain Barrier. Some peptides derived from scorpion venom have the ability to penetrate this barrier. This property allows for the development of new delivery systems to get drugs directly into brain tissue.

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In conclusion, scorpion venom offers exciting potential in the field of Drug Discovery & Delivery, serving as both a rich source for the discovery of new drug molecules and an innovative tool for safely and effectively delivering these drugs to targeted areas. The integration of these two fields could open up new horizons for future personalized and targeted medical applications.