Trehalose Glycopolymers to Enhance both Pharmacokinetics and Stability of Therapeutic Proteins

 描述（由申请人提供）：拟定研究的长期目标是确定用于稳定蛋白质治疗剂的平台技术的临床前有效性。蛋白质治疗剂的固有不稳定性是一个很大的障碍，在某些情况下是其使用的障碍。我们已经开发了在侧链中含有糖海藻糖的聚合物。这些材料使生物制品在高温、室温、冷藏、冷冻、冻干甚至电子束灭菌剂量下保持稳定。此外，我们有证据表明，该聚合物赋予蛋白质有利的药代动力学特性，类似于在医学中广泛使用的聚合物，聚（乙二醇）或PEG。我们建议海藻糖糖共聚物将具有与PEG相当的药代动力学性质，但在稳定能力方面明显优于PEG。这对患者健康、生活质量和降低成本都很重要。我们计划用三种重要的疗法来证明这一点：胰岛素、粒细胞集落刺激因子（G-CSF）和透明质酸酶（HAse）。这些代表性蛋白质具有不同的大小和糖基化程度，并且对于稳定化是重要的。然而，如果这项研究成功，聚合物可能会广泛应用 to many许多other therapeutics疗法.为了达到我们的主要目标，我们提出了三个具体目标。首先，我们将制备聚合物-胰岛素结合物，并测定热应激前后的生物活性。据推测，海藻糖聚糖-蛋白质在生物活性方面与PEG-蛋白质相当，但与PEG缀合物和未修饰的蛋白质相比，表现出优越的上级热稳定性。为了测试这一点，将合成缀合物并使其经受温度升高。将对蛋白质完整性进行生物化学研究，以评价大小、聚集状态和折叠。然后将使用标准体外试验和小鼠体内胰岛素、G-CSF和HAse试验测定生物活性。其次，我们将研究药物代谢动力学特性和免疫反应的聚合物结合物。假设结合的海藻糖糖共聚物将延长与PEG相似的蛋白质的血液半衰期，并且将是非抗原性的。为了确定这一点，将进行标准药代动力学和免疫原性研究，并与类似的聚乙二醇化形式进行比较。第三，我们将研究偶联物的生物分布和毒性。假设结合海藻糖糖共聚物在体内无毒，并且与PEG类似地从小鼠体内分布和消除。这将通过使用正电子发射断层扫描和伽马计数的生物分布研究来确定。将通过血液学分析、生化参数和组织学评价在小鼠中研究急性和慢性毒性。这些研究对于评估海藻糖糖共聚物是否安全至关重要，并且可以进一步探索以提高体内和体外蛋白质的寿命。鉴定可以在缀合物中取代PEG的聚合物的研究是重要的，并且是我们在蛋白质缀合物中取代PEG的长期目标的一部分。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of the proposed research is to establish preclinical efficacy of a platform technology for the stabilization of proteins therapeutics. Inherent instability of protein therapeutics is a large hindrance and in some cases a barrier to their use. We have developed polymers that contain the sugar trehalose in the side chains. The materials stabilize biologics to high temperatures, room temperature, refrigeration, freezing, lyophilization, and even to electron beam sterilization dosages. Furthermore, we have evidence that the polymer confers favorable pharmacokinetic properties to proteins similar to the widely utilized polymer in medicine, poly (ethylene glycol) or PEG. We propose that trehalose glycopolymers will have comparable pharmacokinetic properties to PEG and yet be significantly better than PEG with regard to stabilization ability. This is important for patient health, quality of life, and to reduce costs. We plan to demonstrate this with three important therapeutics: insulin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and hyaluronidase (HAse). These representative proteins have different sizes and degrees of glycosylation and are important to stabilize. Yet, if this research is successful, the polymers may be broadly applicable to many other therapeutics. To reach our major objectives, three specific aims are proposed. First, we will prepare polymer-insulin conjugates and determine bioactivity before and after subjection to heat stress. It is hypothesized that trehalose glycopolymer-protein will be comparable to PEG-protein with regard bioactivity, yet exhibit superior stability to heat compared to the PEG conjugate and unmodified protein. To test this, conjugates will be synthesized and subjected to increases in temperature. The protein integrity will be studied biochemically to evaluate size, aggregation state and folding. The bioactivities will then be determined with standard in vitro assays and in vivo assays in mice for insulin, G-CSF and HAse. Second, we will study pharmacokinetic properties and immune response of polymer conjugates. The hypothesis is that conjugated trehalose glycopolymers will prolong the blood half-life of proteins similar to PEG and will be non antigenic. To determine this, standard pharmacokinetic and immunogenicity studies will be undertaken and compared to the analogous PEGylated versions. Third, we will investigate biodistribution and toxicity of conjugates. It is hypothesized that conjugated trehalose glycopolymers will be nontoxic in vivo and will be distributed and eliminated from mice similarly to PEG. This will be ascertained by biodistribution studies utilizing positron emission tomography and gamma counting. The acute and chronic toxicity will be studied in mice by hematological analysis, biochemical parameters, and histological evaluation. These studies are critical to evaluate if trehalose glycopolymers are safe and can be explored further to enhance the life-times of proteins both inside and outside of the body. Studies to identify polymers that can replace PEG in conjugates are important and are part of our long-term goal to replace PEG in protein conjugates.