Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bernhard G Mueller

Robert Samuel Langer

Richard C Mulligan

Kevin Morris Shakesheff

Scott M Cannizzaro

Sachiko Hirosue

The present invention provides a novel surface engineering strategy that uses biomolecular interactions to immobilize surface modifying ligands on biomaterial architectures. The surface modified compositions resulting from the inventive method are useful in many contexts, including, but not limited to, scaffolds for tissue engineering and as vehicles for site specific drug delivery. In one preferred embodiment, the biomolecular interaction is achieved by using an &ldquo;anchor-adapter-tag&rdquo; system, in which an adapter which can interact specifically and with high selectivity with an anchor molecule (present on the biodegradable surface) and a tag (bound to the ligand to be immobilized) simultaneously is used in attaching the ligand to the surface in a manner which is stable in vitro or in vivo. In another preferred embodiment, the biomolecular interaction is achieved by using an &ldquo;anchor-tag&rdquo; system, in which the anchor simultaneously acts to effect attachment to the architecture and mediate direct interaction with the tag.

Modification of surfaces using biological recognition events

The present invention provides biodegradable polymer nanospheres capable of transporting and releasing therapeutic agents, specifically nucleic acids. In preferred embodiments, a sub-150 nm nanosphere is formed containing nucleic acids. Thereafter, the agent is released from the nanosphere. In one embodiment a biodegradable polymer nanosphere surface has attached to it a targeting moiety. In another embodiment, the biodegradable polymer nanosphere surface has attached to it a masking moiety. In yet another embodiment both targeting and masking moieties are attached to the nanosphere surface.

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Basel, Switzerland

Bernhard G Mueller