Advanced drug delivery 3 - PPC Flashcards
What is a polymer protein conjugate?
Drug delivery system where there is a polymer covalently conjugated to a protein
Protein polymer conjugate
- The protein is the API
- Single protein has one or more polymeric chains attached (usually multiple).
Polymer drug conjugate
- API is typically low MW molecules like traditional anticancer drugs e.g. dox, paclitaxel
- Each polymeric chain carries several drug molecules
Similarity between PDC and PPC
Both have covalent conjugation between API and polymer
Problems with using proteins as therapeutic agents
- Aggregation
- Difficulty in formulation
- Immunogenicity
- Proteolytic degradation
- Rapid renal excretion
- Solubility
Rapid renal excretion
- Smaller proteins are rapidly excreted
- Too quick = insufficient therapeutic action
Aggregation
Occurs before or after administration
Solubility
Needs to be soluble in blood - some proteins arent.
Advantages of PPC
- Protection
- Increased hydrodynamic volume, therefore reduced renal clearance.
- Reduced protein aggregation
PPC: Protection
- Polymeric chains protect proteins from proteolytic degradation
- Also protects the body from unwanted characteristics of the protein e.g. immunogeneicity
Increased hydrodynamic volume and reduced renal clearance
Conjugated protein vs Native protein:
Conjugated protein = increased hydrodynamic volume = slower renal excretion because of the larger size
Reduced protein aggregation
- Attaching polymeric chains prevents protein aggregation because of steric hindrence.
- However they may interfere with interaction with molecular target
- To avoid this, conjugate polymer in areas that are not key to the binding site
General structure of protein
- Amine group
- Alpha carbon
- Variable R group (side chain)
- Carboxylic acid
What does the polymer bind to in a protien
- The side chain: either C terminus or N terminius
Lysine group
- Use to conjugate polymers with a carboxyl group
- Side chain of lysine has an amino group that the polymer can bind to.
- Available in 2 forms:
NH2
NH3+