University of Kansas

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Blake R Peterson

Matthew Levy

Digamber Rane

Liang Xu

A peptide can have a sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 78-91. A conformationally-constrained kinked peptide includes: a conformationally-constraining portion and a kinked portion linked to the conformationally-constraining portion that conformationally constrains the kinked portion having a peptide sequence of one of SEQ NOs: 78-97. A cell-targeting compound can include a conformationally-constrained kinked peptide having a peptide sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 78-97. The peptide sequence can be one of SEQ ID NOs: 78-97, or 78-91, or 92-97. A cell-targeting compound can include a conformationally-constrained kinked peptide linked to a branched linker with one branch arm linked to a specific targeting moiety and one branch arm linked to a general targeting moiety. The specific targeting moiety can be an antibody. The general targeting moiety can be a lipid or cholesterol derivative.

Targeted conformationally-constrained kinked endosomal disrupting peptides

A compound can be a pro-fluorophore peroxynitrite sensor that generates a fluorophore when cleaved by peroxynitrite, having a structure of Formula A: 

Fluorescent sensors of peroxynitrite targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum

A compound can be a fluorescent taxane derivative having a structure of Formula 1, salt, stereoisomer, tautomer, polymorph, or solvate thereof. Formula 1 can be defined as: L, L-NH, or L-NH&#x2014;C&#x2550;O is a linker; and R is a substituent, where &#x2014;OH, &#x2014;O, &#x2014;NH, and NH&#x2014;CHare examples. Examples of linkers can include glycine, beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Pharmaceutical compositions can include the compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and may be configured for intravenous injection. The fluorescent taxane derivative can be used to treat cancer and non-cancer diseases. The fluorescent taxane derivative can be used to monitor cellular efflux and determine whether a cell will efflux paclitaxel. 

Coumarin-linked taxanes for detection and circumvention of cellular efflux

A conformationally-constrained kinked peptide includes: a conformationally-constraining portion and a kinked portion linked to the conformationally-constraining portion that conformationally constrains the kinked portion, the kinked portion comprising an endosomal-disrupting peptide. The peptide can include a peptide sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 5-38, or 40-54 or 61-69. The conformationally-constrained kinked portion can be a majority portion or minority of the peptide. The peptide can include one of Formulae 1-1C, wherein: CC-Peptide includes a peptide that conformationally constrains the ED-KP; Peptide independently includes natural, unnatural, essential or non-essential aromatic, aliphatic, or other amino acids having L or D configuration; ED-KP includes an endosomal-disrupting kinked peptide; Xaa, Xaa1, and Xaa2 are independently one or more natural or non-natural amino acids, essential amino acids, or non-essential amino acids, or derivatives of amino acids having L or D configuration; L1 and L2 are independently linkers; and n1, n2, n3, and n4 are independently 0-50.

Conformationally-constrained kinked endosomal-disrupting peptides

A method of delivering a cargo agent into cytosol of a cell can include: providing the delivery system of one of the embodiments described herein having the first and second delivery platforms; and administering the delivery system to a cell so as to cause targeting of two features on the cell so as to: cause endocytosis of the first and second delivery platforms of the delivery system into a common endosome, destabilize the endosome of the cell having the delivery system, release the cargo agent from the second linker; and release the cargo agent from the destabilized endosome into cytosol of the cell. A method of treating a disease can include: performing the method of method of delivering a cargo agent into cytosol of a cell in a subject having a disease, wherein the cargo agent is a therapeutic agent for the disease.

Targeting multiple receptors on a cell surface for specific cell targeting

A delivery system for introducing a cargo molecule into cytosol of a living cell can include: a first membrane binding element linked to an endosomal compartment disrupting element through a first linker having one or more anionic moieties; and a second membrane binding element linked to an exogenous cargo molecule through a second linker having one or more anionic moieties, the second linker having a region that is selectively cleavable, wherein the first and second membrane binding elements both induce endocytosis into an early/recycling endosome and the endosomal compartment disrupting element destabilizes the early/recycling endosome such that the exogenous cargo molecule is released from the second membrane binding element and into the cytosol of the living cell.

Disruptors of early/recycling endosomes

Synthetic cholesterylamine-linkers can include derivatives of cholesterol, cholesteryl, or sitosteryl coupled through the linker to an agent for delivery into cells. The cholesterylamines are thought to mimic cholesterol in the capacity and mechanism for enhanced entry into cells. The configuration of the cholesterylamine-linker that is thought to provide for enhanced entry into cells includes a cholesterylamine that is coupled to a linker from the amine, and which linker includes a negative charge at a spatial distance from the amine of the cholesterylamine.

Growing community of inventors

Lawrence, KS, United States of America

Blake R Peterson