Abstract: Disclosed are POEGMA-aptamer conjugates with a reduced or eliminated host-immune response. An example conjugate includes an aptamer conjugated to a POEGMA having a plurality of side chains, where each side chain includes 1 to 6 monomers of ethylene glycol repeated in tandem. Also disclosed are methods of making the conjugate and methods of using the conjugate. An example method of use includes a method of controlling coagulation in a subject.

Abstract: Compositions and methods disclosed herein can help provide improved delivery of non-natural therapeutic nucleotides for the treatment of diseases such as cancer. An example composition includes an assembly of amphiphilic polynucleotides, where each amphiphilic polynucleotide includes an aptamer portion, a first nucleotide portion, and a second nucleotide portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are partially ordered polypeptides, which include a plurality of disordered domains and a plurality of structured domains. The partially ordered polypeptides may have phase transition behavior and form aggregates at, above, or below certain temperatures. Further provided are cellular scaffolds comprised of the partially ordered polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to genetically encoded fusion proteins comprised of a capture component that binds a target with high affinity and a peptide polymer, such as elastin-like polypeptides, that display phase behavior and can be used for purification. The invention further relates to methods for optimizing capture fusion proteins for individual biologic targets such that phase separation occurs under desirable conditions, such as at room temperature, lower concentrations of salt, and/or at suitable pH ranges and optimized capture domains and polypeptides with phase behavior that have been identified by the optimization methods.

Abstract: Described herein is an assay device, comprising a substrate comprising microfluidic geometry, and a reagent layer disposed adjacent to the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are lateral flow devices that can sensitively detect an analyte in a sample by using two different populations of nanoparticles. An example device comprises a porous substrate, the porous substrate comprising a sample zone, the sample zone including a detection nanoparticle and a control nanoparticle, wherein the detection nanoparticle and the control nanoparticle each include a different detection label; and a detection zone, the detection zone including a test line and a control line downstream from the test line. Also disclosed are methods and kits including the devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for reducing the antigenicity of molecules. The antigenicity of a molecule may be reduced or eliminated by conjugating at least one branched polymer to the molecule to form a molecule-polymer conjugate. The branched polymer may include a backbone and a plurality of side chains, each side chain covalently attached to the backbone.

Abstract: The invention relates to genetically encoded fusion proteins comprised of a capture component that binds a target with high affinity and a peptide polymer, such as elastin-like polypeptides, that display phase behavior and can be used for purification. The invention further relates to methods for optimizing capture fusion proteins for individual biologic targets such that phase separation occurs under desirable conditions, such as at room temperature, lower concentrations of salt, and/or at suitable pH ranges and optimized capture domains and polypeptides with phase behavior that have been identified by the optimization methods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are partially ordered polypeptides, which include a plurality of disordered domains and a plurality of structured domains. The partially ordered polypeptides may have phase transition behavior and form aggregates at, above, or below certain temperatures. Further provided are cellular scaffolds comprised of the partially ordered polypeptides.

Abstract: Compositions and methods disclosed herein can help provide improved delivery of non-natural therapeutic nucleotides for the treatment of diseases such as cancer. An example composition includes an assembly of amphiphilic polynucleotides, where each amphiphilic polynucleotide includes an aptamer portion, a first nucleotide portion, and a second nucleotide portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fusion proteins including an elastin-like peptide domain, a GLP-1 receptor agonist domain attached to a N-terminal end of the ELP domain, and a FGF21 receptor agonist domain attached to the C-terminal end of the ELP domain. Also disclosed are methods of making the fusion proteins, compositions including a plurality of fusion proteins, and uses of the fusion proteins and compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are conjugates including a fatty acid, a self-assembly domain, and a polypeptide, where the conjugates have phase transition behavior. Further disclosed are methods of using the conjugates to treat disease, methods of delivering an agent, and methods of preparing the conjugates.

Abstract: Compositions and methods disclosed herein can provide complex protein-based structures that can be used in biomedical applications. An example composition includes an assembly that includes disordered polypeptides and partially ordered polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices that can be used to detect neutralizing antibodies against multiple pathogens in a quick and accurate manner. An example device includes a substrate; a non-fouling layer; a plurality of pathogen regions, each pathogen region including a different pathogen; and at least one detection region, the detection region including a detection agent that is capable of specifically binding each pathogen and an excipient. In addition, an example method includes contacting a biological sample with a device, and detecting the presence of a neutralizing antibody in the biological sample for each pathogen, wherein the presence of the neutralizing antibody is detected by inhibiting the binding of the detection agent to each pathogen.

Abstract: Described herein are peptide biopolymers that exhibit controlled phase separation based on their amino acid sequence, aromatic:aliphatic ratio, hydrophobicity, temperature, molecular weight, and concentration.

Abstract: Described herein are protein nanoparticles comprising a fusion protein comprising at least one binding polypeptide and at least one unstructured polypeptide, in one aspect, the nanoparticles comprise a di-block of repeats of a core polypeptide, repeats of a corona polypeptide, and one or more binding proteins. The nanoparticles can be used as therapeutic agents, targeted-delivery agents, separation agents, or purification agents.

Abstract: Nano- to microscale liquid coacervate particles are provided. The liquid coacervate particles are produced by a process including stimulating a population of liquid droplets containing one or a mixture of components to induce a phase separation point of a first component, and maintaining stimulation at the phase separation point to form a coacervate domain of the first component within each of the droplets to form the liquid coacervate particles. The self-assembled nano, meso, micro and macro liquid coacervate particles and related coated substrates can have utility in drug delivery, bioanalytical systems, controlled cell culture, tissue engineering, biomanufacturing and drug discovery.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are conjugates including a fatty acid, a self-assembly domain, and a polypeptide having phase transition behavior. Further disclosed are methods of using the conjugates to treat disease, methods of delivering an agent, and methods of preparing the conjugates.

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutic agents and compositions comprising elastin-like peptides (ELPs) and therapeutic proteins. In some embodiments, the therapeutic protein is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, insulin, or Factor VII/VIIa, including functional analogs. The present invention further provides encoding polynucleotides, as well as methods of making and using the therapeutic agents. The therapeutic agents have improvements in relation to their use as therapeutics, including, inter alia, one or more of half-life, clearance and/or persistance in the body, solubility, and bioavailability.

Abstract: Compositions and methods disclosed herein can help provide improved delivery of non-natural therapeutic nucleotides for the treatment of diseases such as cancer. An example composition includes an assembly of amphiphilic polynucleotides, where each amphiphilic polynucleotide includes an aptamer portion, a first nucleotide portion, and a second nucleotide portion.