Abstract: An article such as a biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon is described. The article comprises: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; (c) a polymer layer comprising brush molecules formed on the linking layer; and (d) optionally but preferably, a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) coupled to the brush molecules. The polymer layer is preferably formed by the process of surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of monomeric units thereon. Preferably, each of the monomeric units comprises a monomer (for example, a vinyl monomer) core group having at least one protein-resistant head group coupled thereto, to thereby form the brush molecule on the surface portion. Methods of using the articles are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutic agents and compositions comprising elastic peptides and therapeutic proteins. Such peptides exhibit a flexible, extended conformation. In some embodiments, the therapeutic protein is a GLP-1 receptor agonist (e.g., GLP-1, exendin), 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: 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: The present disclosure describes environmentally responsive polypeptides capable of displaying stimuli-triggered conformational changes in a reversible or irreversible manner that may be accompanied by aggregation. Polypeptides include a number of repeated motifs and may be elastomeric or non-elastomeric. The polypeptides may be used to deliver therapeutics to a biological site and to develop bioactive polypeptides that are environmentally responsive.

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: Methods for producing biomolecule-polymer conjugates, such as polypeptide-polymer conjugates, include attachment of an initiator agent to a biomolecule and in situ polymerization of a polymer from defined sites on the biomolecule. The conjugates may have desirable pharmacological properties and may be used therapeutically.

Abstract: Methods of attaching a ligand to a surface are described that include contacting a surface with a substrate containing an amphiphilic comb polymer. The substrate is configured to provide a pattern of the amphiphilic comb polymer on a selected region of the surface. The substrate can be separated from the surface leaving the amphiphilic comb polymer on the selected region of the surface, thus providing a selected region of the surface having amphiphilic comb polymer on it. A ligand can then be deposited on the surface such that the selected region of the surface having the amphiphilic comb polymer is substantially free of the ligand.

Abstract: A method for delivering a drug depot of a compound of interest to a selected region in a subject. The method comprises administering a composition directly to said region of interest, the composition comprising the compound of interest to be delivered (such as an antiinflammatory agent or a chemotherapeutic agent) and a polymer (such as an elastin-like peptide or ELP) that undergoes an inverse temperature phase transition, so that a sustained release of the compound of interest at the selected region is provided. Compositions useful for carrying out the invention are also described.

Abstract: Drug-polymer chemotherapeutics are provided having improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced dose-limiting toxicity. Methods are also provided for modulating the architecture, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of drug-polymers and for reducing the dependence of transition temperature on concentration for drug-polymers.

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutic agents and compositions comprising elastic peptides and therapeutic proteins. Such peptides exhibit a flexible, extended conformation. In some embodiments, the therapeutic protein is a GLP-1 receptor agonist (e.g., GLP-1, exendin), 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: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement agent comprising an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) and one or more paramagnetic metal ions is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of preparing ELP MRI contrast enhancement agents, formulations comprising ELP MRI contrast enhancement agents, and methods of using ELP MRI contrast enhancement agents to image biological samples and to image and deliver therapeutic agents to targeted sites in vivo. In some embodiments, the ELP MRI agents can be used in methods related to blood volume determination, in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and in vascular transport determinations. The ELP MRI contrast agents can also provide information on the expression of various proteins through affinity targeting or enzymatic crosslinking in order to aid in diagnosis and in the spatial definition of pathologic tissue.

Abstract: Methods of attaching a ligand to a surface are described that include contacting a surface with a substrate containing an amphiphilic comb polymer. The substrate is configured to provide a pattern of the amphiphilic comb polymer on a selected region of the surface. The substrate can be separated from the surface leaving the amphiphilic comb polymer on the selected region of the surface, thus providing a selected region of the surface having amphiphilic comb polymer on it. A ligand can then be deposited on the surface such that the selected region of the surface having the amphiphilic comb polymer is substantially free of the ligand.

Abstract: Therapeutic compositions containing fusion proteins (FPs) including elastin-like peptides (ELPs) and peptide active therapeutic agents, and methods of making and using such compositions and fusion proteins. Therapeutic compositions of such type enable improved efficacy of the peptide active therapeutic agent to be achieved, in relation to the peptide active therapeutic agent alone. Enhanced efficacy of the peptide active therapeutic agent in the therapeutic composition may include improved solubility, bioavailability, bio-unavailability, half-life, etc., as compared to corresponding compositions containing the same peptide active therapeutic agent without associated ELPs.

Abstract: The present invention provides conjugate compounds comprising (a) an active compound; (b) optionally, but in some embodiments preferably, an affinity binding agent; and (c) a block copolymer, the block copolymer comprising: (i) a first elastin-like polypeptide having a first Tt and (U) a second elastin-like polypeptide having a second Tt greater than the first Tt. Method for the targeted delivering of an active compound in vivo to a selected region within a subject with such agents are also described.

Abstract: An article such as a biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon is described. The article comprises: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; (c) a polymer layer comprising brush molecules formed on the linking layer; and (d) optionally but preferably, a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) coupled to the brush molecules. The polymer layer is preferably formed by the process of surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of monomeric units thereon. Preferably, each of the monomeric units comprises a monomer (for example, a vinyl monomer) core group having at least one protein-resistant head group coupled thereto, to thereby form the brush molecule on the surface portion. Methods of using the articles are also described.

Abstract: An article such as a biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon is described. The article comprises: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; (c) a polymer layer comprising brush molecules formed on the linking layer; and (d) optionally but preferably, a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) coupled to the brush molecules. The polymer layer is preferably formed by the process of surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of monomeric units thereon. Preferably, each of the monomeric units comprises a monomer (for example, a vinyl monomer) core group having at least one protein-resistant head group coupled thereto, to thereby form the brush molecule on the surface portion. Methods of using the articles are also described.

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: Bioelastomers are disclosed for use in methods of binding compounds including immunoassay methods, in biosensors and methods or regenerating biosensors, and in methods for targeting the delivery of a compound to a particular location within an animal subjects. In general, the bioelastomer is conjugated to a binding compound, which is in turn used to bind a compound of interest. For targeted compound delivery, the bioelastomer is conjugated to the compound to be delivered.

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: Genetically-encodable, environmentally-responsive fusion proteins comprising ELP peptides. Such fusion proteins exhibit unique physico-chemical and functional properties that can be modulated as a function of solution environment. The invention also provides methods for purifying the FPs, which take advantage of these unique properties, including high-throughput purification methods.