Impact of Conjugation Chemistry on the Pharmacokinetics of Peptide-Polymer Conjugates in a Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.

ABSTRACT: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a leading cause of long-term disability and mortality; however, there are no effective therapies to mitigate secondary injury and long-term neurological impairments. After the initial mechanical insult, there is a secondary injury that leads to neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, both of which are linked to changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM). A short peptide sequence, CAQK (Cys-Ala-Gln-Lys), targets upregulated ECM proteoglycans after TBI and has exhibited therapeutic properties in preclinical TBI studies. However, like many peptides, CAQK has poor pharmacokinetics, with rapid systemic clearance limiting its therapeutic potential. To overcome these limitations, we investigated a peptide-polymer conjugate using a poly(ethyl

SUBMITTER: Wu JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12272539 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature