Proteinoid compounds, process of preparing same and uses thereof

Abstract

Proteinoid compounds characterized by a molecular weight (Mw) of at least 15,000 Da, processes of preparing such compounds and methods of use thereof, are provided. A method of monitoring the presence and metastases of cancer in a body of an individual is further disclosed.

1 . A composition comprising proteinoid compounds in a form of self-assembled hollowsphere particles, wherein a hydrodynamic size of at least 80% of the self-assembled hollowsphere particles varies by less than 25% from an average hydrodynamic diameter of the entire self-assembled hollowsphere particles of the composition; wherein each of said proteinoid compounds is a random amino acid co-polymer, and wherein said proteinoid compounds are characterized by a dispersity index (1)) value of less than 1.3 and by a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 15,000 Da; and wherein said random amino acid co-polymer is characterized by an IR spectrum devoid of a carbonyl stretching peak above 1700 cm −1 . 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said random amino acid co-polymer consists of alpha-amino acid residues bound to each other via a primary amide bond, wherein the amino acid residue is selected from the group consisting of: val, ala, arg, asn, asp, cys, glu, gln, gly, his, met, ile, leu, lys, phe, pro, ser, thr, trp, and tyr residue. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more agents selected from: labeling compound, UV blocker, an antibacterial compound, a magnetite, an antioxidant, a filler, biologically active agent, said one or more agents being attached to and/or encapsulated within said self-assembled hollowsphere. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said random amino acid co-polymer is represented by Formula 1: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R represents an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of: val, ala, arg, asn, asp, cys, glu, gln, gly, his, met, ile, leu, lys, phe, pro, ser, thr, trp, and tyr residue. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric backbone is represented by the following formula: [A 1 ] x [A 2 ] y [A 3 ] z    wherein:   a) A 1 , is selected from Glu, Asp and Lys;   b) A 2  and A 3  each independently represents an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of: val, ala, arg, asn, asp, cys, glu, gln, gly, his, met, ile, leu, lys, phe, pro, ser, thr, trp, and tyr residue; or wherein A 2  or A 3  is absent;   c) x, y, and z are integers, independently, representing the total numbers of A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 , respectively, in said polymeric backbone, such that x+y+z has a value of at least 100.   
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein A 2 , and A 3  are each, independently selected from Asp, Arg, Tyr, His, Ala, Phe, Cys, and Ile residue. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein A 1  is Glu and A 2  is selected form Asp, Phe, and Lys, and A 3  is absent. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein A 1  is Glu, A 2  is Lys, and A 3  is Phe or is absent. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein x, y, and z have a value such that at least one of: x/y, x/z, and y/z ranges from about 1:3 to about 3:1. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said random amino acid co-polymer is represented by the following formula [Phe] n [Arg] x [His] y [Lys] z    n, x, y, and z are integers, independently, representing the total numbers of Phe, Arg, His, and Lys, respectively, in the polymeric backbone, such that n+x+y+z has a value of at least 100.   
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said proteinoid compounds are characterized by a dispersity index (1)) value of less than 1.1. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said proteinoid compounds are characterized by a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 30,000 Da. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said proteinoid compounds are characterized by a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of between 30,000 and 300, 000 Da. 
     
     
         14 . A process of synthesizing the self-assembled hollowsphere particles of  claim 1 , the process comprising:
 a) heating one or more types of amino acid to a temperature that ranges from 100° C. to 200° C. under inert gas atmosphere, thereby forming a melt;   b) stirring said melt at a temperature that ranges from 100° C. to 200° C., for at least 30 min, thereby polymerizing said one or more amino acids thereby obtaining a crude mixture;   c) purifying said crude mixture to obtain a solution comprising purified proteinoid compounds; and   d) heating said solution to a temperature sufficient for inducing self-assembly of the purified proteinoid compounds, thereby obtaining said self-assembled hollowsphere particles; wherein said one or more types of amino acid comprise at least one of Glu, Asp and Lys.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein said purifying is selected from dialysis, filtration and chromatographic separation. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein said purified proteinoid compounds are soluble in water so as to obtain a solution. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein all of said purified proteinoid compounds are dissolved within said solution at a concentration of at least 1 mg/ml, and wherein a temperature of said solution ranges between 20° C. and 30° C.