ABSTRACT

Acknowledgments .............................................................................................. 72

References .......................................................................................................... 72

Cell membranes protect the cell against invasions from the extracellular media.

Large hydrophilic compounds, such as polypeptides and oligonucleotides, are

unable to pass through this barrier and thus have limited therapeutic value. In recent

years, several membrane-permeable peptides, namely cell-penetrating peptides

(CPPs), have been described. The capacity of CPPs to penetrate cells indicates

their potential application as new agents for cellular delivery of drugs that are

unable to pass through the cell membrane. CPPs may provide an alternative to