Biology

Peptide

Cancer research

Biochemistry

Immunology

Combinatorial chemistry

Circular dichroism

Tumor microenvironment

Tumor cells

Crystallography

Chemistry

Epitope

Biophysics

Random coil

Antibody

Chemical Communications

Considering that the pH in the tumor microenvironment is dysregulated, we designed a β-hairpin peptide (SSRFEWEFESSDPRGDPSSRFEWEFESS). The configuration of the peptide switched from a flexible linear to a rigid loop structure under weakly acidic conditions. The peptide internalized by tumor cells increased significantly under weakly acidic conditions.

A β-hairpin peptide with pH-controlled affinity for tumor cells