Genetically encoded elastin-like polypeptide nanoparticles for drug delivery.

Small molecule drugs suffer from poor in vivo half-life, rapid degradation, and systemic off-target toxicity. To address these issues, researchers have developed nanoparticles that significantly enhance the delivery of many drugs while reducing their toxicity and improving targeting to specific organs. Recombinantly synthesized biomaterials such as elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) have unique attributes that greatly facilitate the rational design of nanoparticles for drug delivery.

Genetically Encoded Elastin-Like Polypeptides for Drug Delivery.

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are thermally responsive biopolymers that consist of a repeated amino acid motif derived from human tropoelastin. These peptides exhibit temperature-dependent phase behavior that can be harnessed to produce stimuli-responsive biomaterials, such as nanoparticles or injectable drug delivery depots. As ELPs are genetically encoded, the properties of ELP-based biomaterials can be controlled with a precision that is unattainable with synthetic polymers.