Application:

  • Over 100 peptide and protein drugs (e.g., insulin, LHRH, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines) are used clinically but require frequent injections due to short in vivo half-life and low bioavailability.
  • Current delivery systems suffer from burst release, limited duration, and use of organic solvents that may damage sensitive biologics.
  • There is a growing demand for sustained, safe, and solvent-free protein delivery technologies to improve patient compliance and reduce healthcare costs.

Our innovation:

  • A novel stereocomplex-based nanoparticle platform for extended and controlled release of peptide and protein drugs.
  • Developed using a biodegradable and GRAS-approved D-PLA-PEG copolymer that self-assembles with L-configured peptides (e.g., insulin) in aqueous media—no organic solvents or surfactants required.
  • Demonstrated with insulin as a model drug, achieving continuous therapeutic activity for 14–16 weeks after a single subcutaneous injection

Advantages 

  • Extended release: Sustained in vitro release for 14 weeks (≈85 days) with zero-order kinetics and no burst effect.
  • Proven efficacy: A single injection in diabetic mice maintained blood glucose control for 16 weeks, with normal body weight and no toxicity or local inflammation.
  • High stability: Nanoparticles of ~400–500 nm remain stable in aqueous solution; degradation-controlled release ensures consistent dosing.
  • Versatile platform: Mechanism relies on stereocomplexation between polymer and peptide backbones, applicable to multiple therapeutic proteins and peptides beyond insulin.
  • Solvent-free fabrication: Entirely produced in aqueous conditions, preserving biological activity and enabling scalable manufacturing.
  • Regulatory-friendly materials: Uses PLA-PEG, already FDA-approved for medical applications.

Opportunity

We are seeking collaboration with pharmaceutical and drug-delivery companies developing:

  • Long-acting biologics (insulin, GLP-1 analogs, growth hormones, LHRH analogs, etc.)
  • Sustained-release peptide and protein formulations
  • Advanced biomaterials for therapeutic, vaccine, or cultured-meat applications

This technology provides a universal, safe, and scalable delivery system to extend the half-life and stability of biologic drugs.

Contact in Yissum: Ariela Markel