Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Cudic, Predrag

Abstract

To treat neurological diseases and disorders, the drug must cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Polar and high molecular weight molecules, such as peptides, are impeded by the BBB. Alternatively, intranasal administration allows the delivery of these molecules to the brain by bypassing the BBB. To improve intranasal delivery to the brain, novel cyclic opioid peptides DADLE-OL I and II were created as a proof-of-concept using a novel strategy that involved grafting a bioactive sequence into the scaffold of a cyclic peptide. DADLE was grafted into the scaffold of a naturally occurring cyclic peptide, odorranalectin, which binds to carbohydrates expressed on the olfactory nerves. The PerkinElmer AlphaScreen cAMP Assay was used to study the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of DADLE-OL I and II. My research project was focused on optimization of the AlphaScreen cAMP assay to elucidate the SAR of novel cyclic peptide opioid ligands. This study provided valuable structure-activity information for further structural modification of cyclic peptide opioid ligands and the discovery of novel pain medications.

Comments

Includes bibliography.

Extent

33 p.

Identifier

FAUHT00069

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