Figure 1.

Comparisons of membrane characteristics and anticancer peptides action on healthy cells (left) and cancer cells (right). The outer leaflet of the healthy cell membrane presents a neutral net charge leading to non-interaction of anticancer peptides on the healthy cell surface (left), whereas negative net charge on the outer leaflet of the cancer cell membrane could interact with the cationic anticancer peptides (right). In cancer cells, anticancer peptides, particularly in the α-helical form, act as molecularly targeted peptides that can penetrate and directly bind to the specific cancer cell or organelle membranes promoting cancer cell apoptosis. While, binding peptides linking to the anticancer drugs that have no anticancer property, can recognize and penetrate the cancer cell membrane. pHe, extracellular pH.