Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing bifunctional fusion polymers or nanoparticles. These fusion polymers and nanoparticles contain two or more domains: (i) sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous lesions and (ii) domains that bind to pharmaceutical agents. The drug-binding functionality of these fusion polymers and nanoparticles is based on high-affinity, non-covalent interactions.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target and deliver agents to pathological areas by utilizing multifunctional compounds. These compounds include three or more domains: (i) a vimentin-binding peptide, (ii) a linker, and (iii) a drug binding, a capturing reagent, or a detectable moiety. These compounds can be used to detect, isolate, and/or treat cancerous cells such as circulating tumor cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target pharmaceutical agents to pathological areas by utilizing fusion polypeptides. These fusion polypeptides contain two or more domains: (i) aptamer sequences that bind to exposed collagenous (XC-) proteins present in pathological areas, including cancerous and viral lesions, (ii) immunomodulators, such as cytokines, and optionally (iii) at least one linker joining the two domains or at the terminus of the polypeptide. In some cases, the linker is a rigid linker, e.g., a rigid helical linker. Also provided herein are methods of treating cancer and/or infectious diseases using the new fusion polypeptides.