Calcium Delivery System Assembled by a Nanostructured Peptide Derived from the Sea Cucumber Ovum

In this study, the binding mechanism, morphological, and conformational analysis of the complex of a sea cucumber ovum derived octapeptide (EDLAALEK) with Ca2+ as well as its calcium delivery behavior via the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were investigated. The Ca2+ specifically bound to two carboxyl oxygen atoms of C-terminal Glu and Asp on the EDLAALEK peptide at a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1. Calcium coordination induced the self-assembly of the EDLAALEK peptide, resulting in the formation of a nanocomposite with a crystal structure. Furthermore, the formed nanocomposite went through dissociation and self-assembly during in vitro GI digestion, accompanied by the release and rechelation of Ca2+, which was related to changes in their secondary structure. Nevertheless, the GI digests of the EDLAALEK–calcium complex could significantly enhance Ca2+ absorption across Caco-2 cell monolayers. The findings suggest that the sea cucumber ovum derived peptide has the potential as an efficient nanocarrier to transport calcium through the GI system.