Rezolute, Inc.

Eliana B Gomez

Mary S Rosendahl

Sankaram B Mantripragada

Examples may include a method of making a protein-PEG conjugate salt with increased hydrophobicity. The method may include providing an aqueous protein solution. This aqueous protein solution may include a protein and a pH buffer. The method may also include reacting a polyethylene glycol with the protein to form a protein-PEG conjugate. The method may further include protonating an amino group on the protein-PEG conjugate with a hydrophobic organic acid in an organic phase. The protonation may form the protein-PEG conjugate salt having a hydrophobic anion that increases the hydrophobicity-PEG conjugate salt.

Use of hydrophobic organic acids to increase hydrophobicity of proteins and protein conjugates

Examples may include a microsphere. The microsphere may include a biodegradable polymer. Furthermore, the microsphere may include a protein mixture selected from the group consisting of a protein-polyethylene glycol conjugate, the protein-polyethylene glycol conjugate and the hydrophobic anion of the organic acid, a protein and the hydrophobic anion of the organic acid, and combinations thereof. Examples may also include a method of making the microspheres. The method may further include reacting a polyethylene glycol with a protein to form a protein-PEG conjugate. In addition, the method may include protonating an amino group on the protein-PEG conjugate with a hydrophobic organic acid to form the protein-PEG conjugate salt. Furthermore, the method may include mixing the protein-PEG conjugate salt in an organic solvent with a biodegradable polymer. The method may also include emulsifying the mixture. Additionally, the method may include hardening the emulsified mixture into the controlled-release microspheres.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Eliana B Gomez