Method of drug delivery through selective targeting, of biological tissues containing populations of receptor proteins, with novel conjugate molecules

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of novel drug delivery through selective targeting of biological tissues containing populations of MOR or SPR proteins by the administration of novel chimeric hybrid molecules. The method is illustrated by administration of a novel chimeric hybrid molecule containing an opioid moiety of chemically modified morphine (3) that binds to and activates the human mu (μ) opioid receptor, with the opioid moiety linked through a novel linker-hinge (4) to a substance P peptide fragment moiety (5) that binds to and activates the human substance P receptor.

1 . a method of selectively targeting biological tissues containing populations of MOR proteins plus other nearby receptors targeted by the selected drug, comprising administration to a living subject of a novel conjugate molecule, comprised of a peptide and a non-peptide, in which one moiety is an MOR agonist, the other moiety is a pharmacologically active fragment of the selected drug, and the moieties are joined by a flexible linker hinge permitting the delivered drug to activate its targeted receptor when the targeting drug activates its receptor.  
     
     
         2 . a method of selectively targeting biological tissues containing populations of SPR proteins plus other nearby receptors targeted by the selected drug, comprising administration to a living subject of a novel conjugate molecule, comprised of a peptide and a non-peptide, in which one moiety is an SPR agonist, the other moiety is a pharmacologically active fragment of the selected drug, and the moieties are joined by a flexible linker hinge permitting the delivered drug to activate its targeted receptor when the targeting drug activates its receptor.