Induction of a higher-ordered architecture in glatiramer acetate improves its biological efficiency in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.

Glatiramer acetate (GA), a linear random copolypeptide, is a first-line treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). A major concern, however, is that GA treatment is associated with adverse effects and poor patient adherence due to the need for frequent injections. Here we describe improved performance of the polymeric drug, even at low doses with less-frequent injections, through the modification of its architecture into a star-shaped GA (sGA).

Unimolecular Polypeptide Micelles via Ultrafast Polymerization of -Carboxyanhydrides.

Polypeptide micelles are widely used as biocompatible nanoplatforms but often suffer from their poor structural stability. Unimolecular polypeptide micelles can effectively address the structure instability issue, but their synthesis with uniform structure and well-controlled and desired sizes remains challenging. Herein we report the convenient preparation of spherical unimolecular micelles through dendritic polyamine-initiated ultrafast ring-opening polymerization of -carboxyanhydrides (NCAs).