Structural and hydrodynamic analysis of a novel drug delivery vector: ELP[V5G3A2-150].

ABSTRACT: The therapeutic potential of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) conjugated to therapeutic compounds is currently being investigated as an approach to target drugs to solid tumors. ELPs are hydrophobic polymers that are soluble at low temperatures and cooperatively aggregate above a transition temperature (TT), allowing for thermal targeting of covalently attached drugs. They have been shown to cooperatively transition from a disordered structure to a repeating type II β-turn structure, forming a β-spiral above the TT. Here we present biophysical measurements of the structural, thermodynamic, and hydrodynamic properties of a specific ELP being investigated for drug delivery, ELP[V5G3A2-150]. We examine the biophysical properties below and above the TT to understand and predict the therapeutic p

SUBMITTER: Lyons DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3647178 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature