Block copolypeptide vesicles for drug delivery

PMSE 226

Daniel T. Kamei, kamei@seas.ucla.edu, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Vesicles composed of polyarginine and polyleucine segments were prepared, and demonstrated in vitro to transport dye-labeled dextran into both epithelial and endothelial cells without being toxic. These vesicles were formed form a block copolypeptide comprised of 60 arginine residues followed by 20 leucine residues. These vesicles are stable in media, can be processed to different sizes, and can be prepared in large quantities. In contrast to conjugating a polyarginine peptide to an existing vesicle, the polyarginine segment of these block copolypeptides direct both vesicular assembly as well as intracellular delivery. To further investigate the utility of these systems, we have recently begun encapsulating biologically relevant molecules.