Polypeptide-polymer conjugates and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides polypeptide-polymer conjugates. A subject polypeptide-polymer conjugate is useful in a variety of applications, which are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conjugate of the formula:
   X—(Y) n —Z,
   where X is a biologically active polypeptide;   Y is an optional linker moiety, wherein n is 0 or an integer from 1 to about 10; and   Z is a biocompatible polymer comprising front about 50 to 100,000 subunits,   wherein the molar ratio of the biologically active polypeptide to the polymer is at least about 5:1.   
     
     
         2 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a linear polymer comprising multiple subunits selected from hyaluronic acid, acrylic acid, ethylene glycol, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, mannitol, maltose, glucose, arabinose, taurine, betaine, modified celluloses, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, modified starches, hydrophobically modified starch, hydroxyethyl starch, hydroxypropyl starch, amylose, amylopectin, oxidized starch, and copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active polypeptide is a receptor, a ligand for a receptor, a growth factor, an angiogenic factor, a polypeptide that induces cell differentiation, an antibody, or a polypeptide that inhibits cell proliferation. 
     
     
         4 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is linear poly(acrylic acid). 
     
     
         5 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the biologically active polypeptide to the polymer is from about 5:1 to about 10:1. 
     
     
         7 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the biologically active polypeptide to the polymer is from about 10:1 to about 25:1. 
     
     
         8 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the biologically active polypeptide to the polymer is from about 25:1 to about 50:1. 
     
     
         9 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active polypeptide has a molecular weight of from about 2 kDa to about 100 kDa. 
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
 a) the conjugate of  claim 1 ; and   b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.   
     
     
         11 . An implantable device comprising the conjugate of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The implantable device of  claim 11 , wherein the implantable device is a stent, a shunt, an artificial valve, a lead, an artificial joint, a graft, or an electrode. 
     
     
         13 . An implantable drug delivery device comprising the conjugate of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A treatment method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , the implantable device of  claim 11 , or the implantable drug delivery device of  claim 13 .