Abstract: Disclosed are protein-like polymers and uses thereof. The protein-like polymers generally comprise a polymer of formula (FX1) or (FX2). The polymer of formula (FX1) or (FX2) in some aspects inhibits the protein-protein interaction between VCP and mutant-type Huntingtin protein.

Abstract: Described herein, inter alia, are peptide containing polymers, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Provided in the present disclosure are complexes and solutions demonstrating improved aqueous solubility of derivatized cytotoxic taxane drug moieties. In some other aspects, the disclosure provides methods of using such complexes and solutions for the treatment of cancer. In some further aspects, the disclosure provides combination therapies that may be suitable when used in combination with the use of the complexes disclosed herein.

Abstract: Aspects disclosed herein include a method for matching hair composition, the method comprising: characterizing one or more first characteristics of a natural melanin composition of a hair sample from a subject; and preparing a prepared artificial melanin formulation to approximate (or, to match or to resemble) the one or more first characteristics; wherein the prepared artificial melanin formulation comprises one or more artificial melanin materials.

Abstract: Included herein are methods and materials for nontoxic, biocompatible, optionally metal-free, tunable, and long-lasting coloration of human hair. More particularly, provided herein are methods, and associated formulations, for efficient formation and deposition of synthetic melanin to human hair, thereby coloration of hair, whereby the hair treatment formulation is viscous enough for treatment of hair without substantially loss of the formulation which further allows an easier application process that includes exposing the hair to the treatment formulation for an extended amount of time. For example, the hair treatment formulation, or viscous solution, can be applied and left on the hair, such as if it were a cream or gel, without requiring soaking the hair in a bath. Different colors can be achieved by tuning reaction conditions such as temperature and solution phase composition.

Abstract: In an aspect, disclosed herein is a compound characterized by formula (FX1): A1-X1—X2-A2 (FX1); wherein: A1 is a carboxylic acid group, a carboxylate anion, or a carboxylate ester, X1 is a substituted or unsubstituted and saturated or unsaturated C1-C50 aliphatic group; X2 is a linker group selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, an organic group, -0-, —S—, —S(?O)—, —S(?O)2—, —S—S—, —N?, ?N—, —N(H)—, —N?N—N(H)—, —N(H)—N?N—, —N(OH)—, —N(?O)—, and any combination thereof; and A2 is a peptide, the peptide being terlipressin or a substituted or unsubstituted derivative, a substituted or unsubstituted natural or synthetic analogue, a substituted or unsubstituted variant, a substituted or unsubstituted isomer, or a substituted or unsubstituted fragment of terlipressin.

Abstract: Aspects disclosed herein include fully or partially degradable polymers, liquid formulations comprising such polymers, methods for treating or managing a condition in a subject using such polymers, methods for using such polymers, and methods of synthesizing such polymers. Aspects disclosed herein also include monomers suitable for forming a partially or fully degradable polymer and methods for forming such monomers.

Abstract: Disclosed is composition comprising: a first fluorophore moiety, and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise: a first plurality of a first nanoparticle, the first nanoparticle comprising: a first outer surface, a first interior bulk, and a first polymer, wherein the first polymer is covalently bonded to the first fluorophore moiety within the first interior bulk of the first nanoparticle. Also disclosed is a composition comprising: a chelate moiety, and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise: a plurality of a chelate nanoparticle, the chelate nanoparticle comprising: an outer surface, an interior bulk, and a polymer, wherein the polymer is covalently bonded to the chelate moiety within the interior bulk of the chelate nanoparticle. Also disclosed are methods of making such compositions and using such composition for brain mapping and tracing of axonal projections.

Abstract: In an aspect, an artificial selenomelanin material comprises: one or more selenomelanin polymers; wherein the one or more selenomelanin polymers comprise a plurality of covalently bonded selenomelanin base units; and wherein a chemical formula of each of the one or more selenomelanin base units comprises at least one selenium atom. Optionally, each selenomelanin polymer is a pheomelanin. Preferably, the chemical formula of each of the one or more selenomelanin base units comprises at least one covalent bond with each of the at least one selenium atom.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a polymer comprising: a plurality of repeating units, each repeating unit comprising a polymer backbone group directly or indirectly covalently linked to one or two side chain moieties; wherein: each polymer backbone group is independently a ROMP-polymerized monomer; each one of the one or two side chain moieties independently comprises a peptide moiety or a non-peptide therapeutic moiety; wherein the polymer comprises a plurality of peptide moieties; each polymer backbone group is covalently attached to at least one other polymer backbone group; 100% of the ROMP-polymerized monomers are each individually attached to the one or two side chain moieties; and at least one side chain moiety of the polymer comprises a non-peptide therapeutic moiety, one polymer-terminating group comprises a non-peptide therapeutic moiety, and/or each of both polymer-terminating groups comprises a non-peptide therapeutic moiety.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method of treating hair of a subject with an artificial melanin material comprises contacting in a solution artificial melanin precursors with an oxidizing agent at a temperature greater than or equal to 30° C. in the presence of the hair of the subject to form the artificial melanin material; wherein the artificial melanin material associates with the hair of the subject, thereby treating the hair of the subject. Optionally, the contacting step results in deposition of the artificial melanin material on the hair of the subject and/or uptake of the artificial melanin material into the hair of the subject.

Abstract: Cyclic peptide pro-gelator compositions, and methods of therapeutic use, which assemble into macromolecular hydrogel when administered through cleavage by endogenous enzymes upregulated at a site of tissue injury, such as a myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Molecular computer techniques for solving a computational problem using an array of reaction sites, for example, droplets, are disclosed. The problem may be represented as a Hamiltonian in terms of problem variables and problem parameters. The reaction sites may have a physicochemical property mapping to discrete site states corresponding to possible values of the problem variables. In a purely molecular approach, the reaction sites have intra-site and inter-site couplings enforced thereon representing the problem parameters, and the array is allowed to evolve, subjected to the enforced couplings, to a final configuration conveying a solution to the problem. In a hybrid classical-molecular approach, an iterative procedure may be performed that involves feeding read-out site states into a digital computer, determining, based on the problem parameters, perturbations to be applied to the states, and allowing the array to evolve under the perturbations to a final configuration conveying a solution to the problem.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method for synthesizing a peptide brush polymer, the method comprising: exposing a mixture comprising peptide-containing monomers, one or more photoinitiators, and one or more chain transfer agents to a light sufficient to induce photopolymerization, and photopolymerizing the peptide-containing monomers in the mixture; wherein: the resulting peptide brush polymer comprises at least one peptide-containing polymer block; the at least one peptide-containing polymer block is characterized by a degree of polymerization of at least 10 and a peptide graft density of 50% to 100%; and at least one peptide moiety of the at least one peptide-containing polymer block has 5 or more amino acid groups.

Abstract: In an aspect, a plurality of artificial melanin nanoparticles are provided, wherein: each melanin nanoparticle of the plurality of artificial melanin nanoparticles comprises a plurality of melanin oligomers; each melanin oligomer comprises a plurality of covalently-bonded melanin base units; and each melanin base unit comprises substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene. In an aspect, porous artificial melanin materials and methods of synthesizing porous artificial melanin materials are provided.

Abstract: In an aspect, the invention provides therapeutic agents comprising brush polymers that address challenges associated with conventional administration of free therapeutic peptides. In an embodiment, for example, the invention provides brush polymers incorporating one or more therapeutic peptides as side chain moieties. Therapeutic agents of the invention comprising brush polymers include high-density brush polymers including cross-linked brush polymers and brush block copolymers. In an embodiment, brush polymers of the invention exhibit proteolysis-resistant characteristics and maintain their biological function during formulation and administration. The invention also includes methods of making and using therapeutic agents comprising brush polymers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of using prodrugs of small-molecule cytotoxins for the treatment of cancer. In some embodiments, the cancer is a tumor comprising cells that overexpress fatty acid uptake proteins, such as cells that overexpress fatty acid translocase CD36. In some other aspects, the disclosure provides compositions suitable for use in such methods. In some further aspects, the disclosure provides combination therapies that may be suitable used in combination with the use of small-molecule prodrugs disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided, inter alia, are synthetic melanin nanoparticles (MelNPs) useful for protecting keratinocytes from UV-damage and for treating melanin-defective diseases.

Abstract: Described herein, inter alia, are peptide containing polymers, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Provided, inter alia, are synthetic melanin nanoparticles (MelNPs) useful for protecting keratinocytes from UV-damage and for treating melanin-defective diseases.