Disclosed herein are novel methods and compositions for targeting drug delivery systems to specific cells. One aspect relates to a drug delivery system comprising an elastin-like peptide (ELP) component and a ligand selected from the group consisting of mIgA and knob capable of either drug encapsulation or drug attachment. Further aspects relate to drug delivery systems comprising an elastin-like peptide (ELP) component and a ligand; wherein the ligand specifically binds to a receptor selected from the group consisting of CAR and pIgR. Further aspects include the novel transcytosing properties of the elastin-like peptide and the ligand, knob. Also provided are methods and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the disclosed therapeutics.

A drug delivery system includes an atelocollagen-[aptamer-drug] complex which is prepared by mixing an aptamer-drug conjugate comprised of an aptamer and a drug attached to the aptamer with an atelocollagen dispersion. The aptamer is selected from the group consisting of AS1411, CRO, and ERBB2, and the drug is selected from the group consisting of Gemcitabine, Doxorubicin, and siRNA. An anticancer composition including the drug delivery system can compensate for shortcomings of existing anticancer agents and anticancer therapies.

The disclosure relates to methods of treating and/or preventing scarring that would otherwise result from an incision to an area of skin. The methods comprise administering a composition comprising tropoelastin to an area of skin that is to receive an incision and/or after the incision. It is also contemplated that the compositions may reduce scar discoloration. Methods of preventing or reducing keloid re-occurrence are also provided.

Disclosed herein, are recombinant polypeptides comprising one or more homologous amino acid repeats; and, non-immunogenic bioconjugates comprising recombinant polypeptides comprising one or more homologous amino acid repeats and one or more therapeutic agents. Also, disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions including the recombinant polypeptides; and methods of administering the recombinant polypeptides to patients for the treatment of cancer or infections.

A composition including an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) coupled to a kidney targeting peptide and a therapeutic agent is provided.

The disclosure describes collagen constructs comprising antimicrobial agents and related methods.

The present invention relates to a method for assembling (monomeric or oligomeric) proteins and peptide structures to multimeric protein or peptide structures. The present invention also provides a method for preparing peptide based polymers by crosslinking such multimeric proteins or peptides obtainable according to the inventive method and their use as polymers, for amphiphilic applications, as protein based detergents, for forming artificial organelles, etc. Disclosed are furthermore novel protein or peptide structures, nucleic acids encoding same and cloning and expression vectors suitable for carrying out the inventive method for assembling multimeric proteins or peptides. The novel method for assembling proteins and peptide structures may be furthermore be used as a novel scalable peptide generator technique, which are also described, by preparing first a multimeric protein or peptide structure using the inventive method and then specifically degrading the multimeric protein or peptide structure into its monomeric or smaller units.

This disclosure provides a novel compositions and methods to deliver cyclosporine A using genetically engineered protein polymers.

A compound may comprise a radio-opaque moiety that is readily identifiable by radiography, such as X-rays and the like. The compound may be configured to bind to cancerous cells and minimizes collection within healthy tissue. The compound may readily absorb a wavelength of light that is matched to a radiant energy source that emits light at or near said wavelength.

A compound may comprise a chromatic moiety that is chromatically visible to the human eye under white light. The compound may be configured to bind to cancerous cells and minimizes collection within healthy tissue. The compound may readily absorb a wavelength of light that is matched to a radiant energy source that emits light at or near said wavelength.