Abstract: Described herein are thermally responsive polymer-therapeutic molecule conjugates comprising a therapeutic molecule conjugated to a thermally responsive polymer with an acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, and/or methacrylamide backbone and a plurality of oligoethylene glycol side chains.

Abstract: Described herein are albumin binding peptide drug (AlBiPeD) conjugates comprising a small molecule linked to an albumin binding domain (ABD) via a pH-sensitive linker and methods of purifying and using the same.

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: An article having a nonfouling surface thereon is comprises: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; and (c) a polymer layer formed on the linking layer, preferably by the process of surface-initiated polymerization of monomeric units thereon, with each of the monomeric units comprising a monomer core group having at least one protein-resistant head group coupled thereto, to thereby form a brush molecule on the surface portion. The brush molecule comprising a stem formed from the polymerization of the monomer core groups, and a plurality of branches formed from the hydrophilic head group projecting from the stem. Methods of making and using such articles, are also described.

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: An article such as a biomolecular detector or biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon includes:(a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; and (c) a polymer layer formed on the linking layer; and (d) a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) bound to the polymer layer. Methods of making and using the articles are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are sensors that include a carbon nanotube channel and a non-fouling polymer layer, where the non-fouling polymer layer and the carbon nanotube channel do not directly contact each other and are separated by a dielectric layer. The disclosed sensors may be used, e.g., as biosensors for the accurate and sensitive detection of analytes within a sample. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the sensors.

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: 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: Described herein are compositions that may include a triblock self-assembling polypeptide and a molecule attached to the polypeptide. Also described herein are methods of making the compositions and methods of using the compositions.

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 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 persistence in the body, solubility, and bioavailability.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of enhancing in vivo efficacy of an active agent, comprising: administering to a subject an active agent that is coupled to a bioelastic polymer or elastin-like peptide, wherein the in vivo efficacy of the active agent is enhanced as compared to the same active agent when administered to the subject not coupled to (or not associated with) a bioelastic polymer or ELP.

Abstract: Described herein are unstructured polypeptides lacking any discernible repeat motif. Also described herein are fusion proteins including at least one of the unstructured polypeptides and at least one binding polypeptide. Further described are methods for treating a disease in a subject in need thereof. The methods may include administering to the subject an effective amount of the fusion protein.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for detecting analytes from a sample.

Abstract: Provided herein are fusion proteins including at least one binding polypeptide and at least one unstructured polypeptide. The fusion protein may further include at least one linker. Further provided are methods for determining the presence of a target in a sample, methods of treating a disease, methods of diagnosing a disease in a subject, and methods of determining the effectiveness of a treatment for a disease in a subject. The methods may include administering to the subject an effective amount of the fusion protein.

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: An article such as a biomolecular detector or biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon includes: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; and (c) a polymer layer formed on the linking layer; and (d) a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) bound to the polymer layer. Methods of making and using the articles are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for reducing the antigenicity of molecules, wherein the molecule comprises a uricase. 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: Provided herein are fusion proteins including at least one binding polypeptide and at least one unstructured polypeptide. The fusion protein may further include at least one linker. Further provided are methods for determining the presence of a target in a sample, methods of treating a disease, methods of diagnosing a disease in a subject, and methods of determining the effectiveness of a treatment for a disease in a subject. The methods may include administering to the subject an effective amount of the fusion protein.