Delivery Agents for Targeted Treatment of Elastin Degradation

Abstract

Methods and delivery agents for treatment of connective tissue that includes elastic fibers are described. Delivery agents are nano- or micro-sized particles that include a biologically active compound useful in treatment of degraded elastic fibers and an anchoring agent at a surface that binds at or near the area of degraded elastic fibers. The delivery agents may be utilized for targeted delivery of biologically active compounds to degraded elastic fibers so as to maintain and/or regenerate the elastin component of connective tissue, and prevent further degradation and/or rehabilitate the structural architecture of the connective tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delivery agent for treatment of a degraded elastic fiber, the delivery agent comprising:
 a micro- or nano-sized particle;   a biologically active compound associated with the particle for treatment of the degraded elastic fiber; and   an anchoring agent attached to the surface of the particle, wherein the anchoring agent is an elastin antibody or a fragment thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring agent is covalently bonded to the particle. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , further comprising a polymeric molecular spacer between the particle and the anchoring agent. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring agent is bonded to more than one particle. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the particle comprises a polymer, an oxide, or a metal. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the particle comprises a degradable polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the particle has an average diameter of less than about 500 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the particle has a negative surface charge. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active compound is a phenolic compound including at least one phenolic group bound to a hydrophobic core. 
     
     
         10 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active compound is an enzyme inhibitor or a compound that encourages the formation and/or crosslinking of tropoelastin. 
     
     
         11 . The delivery agent of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active compound is within the particle or is bound to the surface of the particle. 
     
     
         12 . A method for forming the delivery agent of  claim 1 , the method including incorporating the biologically active compound within the particle and attaching the anchoring agent to the surface of the particle. 
     
     
         13 . A method for treating a degraded elastic fiber comprising locating a delivery agent in an area that includes the degraded elastic fiber, the delivery agent comprising a micro- or nano-sized particle, a biologically active compound associated with the particle for treatment of the degraded elastic fiber, and an anchoring agent attached to the surface of the particle, the anchoring agent being an elastin antibody or a fragment thereof, the biologically active compound being released from the particle subsequent to the binding of the anchoring agent to the target to treat the degraded elastic fiber. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the target is elastin of the degraded elastic fiber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method is an in vivo method. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the degraded elastic fiber is a symptom of aneurysm, atherosclerotic disease, genetic susceptibilities, blunt force injury, Marfan's syndrome, COPD, pulmonary emphysema, wrinkles, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, scarring, or vascular calcification in a subject. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the biologically active compound is released from the particle via degradation of the particle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the biologically active compound is released from the particle via diffusion from the particle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the delivery agent is located in the area via parenteral delivery, via topical delivery, or via aerosol spray.