Only limited success has been previously achieved from cancer vaccines targeting unmodified tumor-associated self-antigens and new compositions and methods are needed. Immunogenic compositions and methods of use thereof are provided according to the present disclosure which include a protein effective to stimulate immune activity against a tumor-associated self-antigen, or a variant thereof which is a tumor-associated self-antigen.

The present invention relates to polymersomes that contain an encapsulated drug and that exhibit chemotaxis in response to a chemical stimulus. The chemotactic polymersomes can be targeted in vivo to a location of therapeutic interest with high specificity and selectivity. The present invention also provides related pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic methods.

Provided are compositions, methods and kits for treating cancer comprising targeted liposomes comprising a chemotherapy agent and a sensitizer for the chemotherapy agent, and non-targeted liposomes comprising an anti-angiogenic agent. In some embodiments, the targeted liposomes are immunoliposomes. In further embodiments, the immunoliposomes bind to Her-2/neu, and the composition is for treating breast cancer.

A lipid derivative in which a hydrophilic polymer is bound through a cyclic benzylidene acetal linker, and which can accurately control a hydrolysis rate in the weakly acidic environment of a living body to detach the hydrophilic polymer from a lipid membrane structure. The lipid derivative is represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein, R.sup.1 and R.sup.6 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently an electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituent or a hydrogen atom; R.sup.7 is a hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, an acyl group having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, a cholesterol derivative, a glycerolipid, a phospholipid or a sphingolipid; P is a hydrophilic polymer; s is 1 or 2, t is 0 or 1, and s+t is 1 or 2; and Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are each independently a selected divalent spacer.

The present invention relates generally to vesicles such as liposomes, colloidosomes, and polymersomes, as well as techniques for making and using such vesicles. In some cases, the vesicles may be at least partially biocompatible and/or biodegradable. The vesicles may be formed, according to one aspect, by forming a multiple emulsion comprising a first droplet surrounded by a second droplet, which in turn is surrounded by a third fluid, where the second droplet comprises lipids and/or polymers, and removing fluid from the second droplet, e.g., through evaporation or diffusion, until a vesicle is formed. In certain aspects, the size of the vesicle may be controlled, e.g., through osmolarity, and in certain embodiments, the vesicle may be ruptured through a change in osmolarity. In some cases, the vesicle may contain other species, such as fluorescent molecules, microparticles, pharmaceutical agents, etc., which may be released upon rupture. Yet other aspects of the invention are generally directed to methods of making such vesicles, kits involving such vesicles, or the like.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof. The methods include using hybrid polymerized liposomal nanoparticles comprising, both polymerizable lipids and non-polymerizable lipids. The nanoparticles further comprise targeting agents and therapeutic agents.

Asymmetric bifunctional silyl (ABS) monomers comprising covalently linked pharmaceutical, chemical and biological agents are described. These agents can also be covalently bound via the silyl group to delivery vehicles for delivering the agents to desired targets or areas. Also described are delivery vehicles which contain ABS monomers comprising covalently linked agents and to vehicles that are covalently linked to the ABS monomers. The silyl modifications described herein can modify properties of the agents and vehicles, thereby providing desired solubility, stability, hydrophobicity and targeting.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods of making nanoparticles having about 0.2 to about 35 weight percent of a therapeutic agent; and about 10 to about 99 weight percent of biocompatible polymer such as a diblock poly(lactic) acid-poly(ethylene)glycol.

The present invention is directed to a nanoparticle or microparticle for binding to the surface of an endothelial cell, e.g. a brain endothelial cell, for use in a method for reducing amyloid- and/or tau levels in an organ (e.g. the brain) of a patient in need thereof, wherein the nanoparticle or microparticle comprises a ligand type on its external surface which is capable of binding to low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1) on said endothelial cell surface, thereby promoting transport of LRP-1 across said endothelial cell. The present invention is further directed to such nanoparticles or microparticles per se which additionally comprise an encapsulated drug selected from an anti-Alzheimer's drug and/or a drug that is useful in reducing amyloid- and/or tau levels or inhibiting amyloid- and/or tau formation, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a plurality of such nanoparticles or microparticles.

Described herein are MetAP-2 inhibitors and compositions and formulations thereof, and more particularly compositions and formulations of MetAP-2 inhibitors wherein the MetAP-2 inhibitor is associated with a block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic polymer moiety and a hydrophobic polymer moiety. The present invention also relates to compositions and formulations comprising MetAP-2 inhibitors for oral administration or administration via routes such as topical or ocular administration. The present invention also provides methods to treat conditions associated with or related to the over-expression or over-activity of MetAP-2 by administering the compositions and formulations comprising MetAP-2 inhibitors as disclosed herein.