Method and composition for inhibiting cardiovascular cell proliferation

Abstract

Cardiovascular cell proliferation in a blood vessel subjected to trauma, such as angioplasty, vascular graft, anastomosis, or organ transplant, can be inhibited by contacting the vessel with a polymer consisting of from 6 to about 30 amino acid subunits, where at least 50% of the subunits are arginine, and the polymer contains at least six contiguous arginine subunits. Exemplary polymers for this purpose include arginine homopolymers 7 to 15 subunits in length.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A device for delivery of a medicament to a lumen of a vessel wherein said device comprises a polyarginine homopolymer or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       30 . A device for delivery of a medicament to a lumen of a vessel wherein said device comprises a polyarginine having at least 90% arginine subunits or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       31 . A device for delivery of a medicament to a lumen of a vessel wherein said device comprises a polyarginine comprising 7 to 10 arginine residues or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       32 . A device for delivery of a medicament to a lumen of a vessel wherein said device comprises a polyarginine consisting of 7 to 10 arginine residues or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       33 . A device for delivery of a medicament to a lumen of a vessel wherein said device comprises a polyarginine consisting of 9 arginine residues or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 , or  33  wherein said salt comprises an acetate ion.  
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 , or  33  wherein said device comprises a balloon catheter.  
   
   
       36 . A method for performing an angioplasty procedure comprising: administering to a patient undergoing said angioplasty procedure a device of  claim 29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 , or  33 .  
   
   
       37 . A method for performing an angioplasty procedure comprising: administering to a patient undergoing said angioplasty procedure a composition comprising a polyarginine homopolymer or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       38 . A method for performing an angioplasty procedure comprising: administering to a patient undergoing said angioplasty procedure a composition comprising a polyarginine having at least 90% arginine subunits or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       39 . A method for performing an angioplasty procedure comprising: administering to a patient undergoing said angioplasty procedure a composition comprising a polyarginine comprising 7 to 10 arginine residues or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       40 . A method for performing an angioplasty procedure comprising: administering to a patient undergoing said angioplasty procedure a composition comprising a polyarginine consisting of 7 to 10 arginine residues or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       41 . A method for performing an angioplasty procedure comprising: administering to a patient undergoing said angioplasty procedure a composition comprising a polyarginine consisting of 9 arginine residues or a salt thereof.  
   
   
       42 . A method for performing an angioplasty procedure comprising: administering to a patient undergoing said angioplasty procedure a solution comprising of less than 1M of a polyarginine.  
   
   
       43 . A method for performing an angioplasty procedure comprising: administering to a patient undergoing said angioplasty a composition comprising a polyarginine comprising at least 7 amino acid residues.