Methods and compositions for delivering active agents with enhanced pharmacological properties

Abstract

Provided herein are methods of enhancing in vivo efficacy of an active agent, comprising: administering to a subject an active agent that is coupled to a bioelastic polymer or elastin-like peptide, wherein the in vivo efficacy of the active agent is enhanced as compared to the same active agent when administered to the subject not coupled to (or not associated with) a bioelastic polymer or ELP.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . The use of an active agent conjugated to an elastin-like peptide for the manufacture of a medicament for delivery to a subject in a method
 wherein the in vivo efficacy of said active agent is enhanced in said subject when said active agent is administered to said subject in conjugated form as said conjugate as compared to the same amount of said active agent administered to said subject in unconjugated form.   
     
     
         2 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of: (i) the bioavailability of said active agent is greater; (ii) the half-life of said active agent is greater, (iii) the systemic toxicity of said active agent is less, in said subject when said active agent is administered to said subject in conjugated form as said conjugate as compared to the same amount of said active agent administered to said subject in the same way in unconjugated form. 
     
     
         3 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein said active agent is a diagnostic agent. 
     
     
         4 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein said active agent is a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         5 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein said active agent is a chemotherapeutical agent. 
     
     
         6 . The use of  claim 5 , wherein said chemotherapeutical agent is selected from the group consisting of (i) doxorubicin, (ii) paclitaxel, (iii) cis-platinum, and (iv) combrestatin. 
     
     
         7 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein said active agent is an imaging agent. 
     
     
         8 . The use of  claim 7 , wherein said imaging agent is a Gadolinum chelate (Gd). 
     
     
         9 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein said active agent is selected from the group consisting of: (i) small molecules, (ii) radionuclides, (iii) peptides (iv) peptidomimetics, (v) proteins, (vi) antisense oligonucleotides, (vii) peptide nucleic acids, (viii) siRNAs, (ix) metal chelates, and (x) carbohydrates. 
     
     
         10 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein said active agent is a protein or peptide. 
     
     
         11 . The use of  claim 10 , wherein said protein or peptide is selected from the group consisting of (i) an antibody, (ii) an interferon and (iii) a granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). 
     
     
         12 . The-use of  claim 1 , wherein said active agent is a therapeutic antibody. 
     
     
         13 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein said conjugate is administered to said subject in a treatment-effective amount. 
     
     
         14 . The use of  claim 1 , wherein said conjugate is administered to said subject by parenteral injection.