Disclosed are modified pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) peptides, particulate carrier prodrugs thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides or particulate carrier prodrugs. The peptides, particulate carrier prodrugs, and pharmaceutical compositions may be used to treat diseases and disorders that are amenable to treatment with anti-angiogenic agents, anti-tumorigenic agents, anti-fibrotic agents, chemotherapy-protecting agents, and immune stimulating agents.

The treatment of cancer using platinum-based compounds includes certain drawbacks such as biocompatibility, loading efficacy, leakage of drugs during storage and in the bloodstream, more particularly due to the nature of the nanocarriers for platinum delivery. A nanosystem that allows improving platinum-based drug in vivo performance, kinetics and efficacy. In particular, nanoparticles useful as drug delivery system, these nanoparticles being formed from at least: (a) platinum-based drug, (b) poly-L-arginine, and (c) hyaluronic acid. Particularly, these nanoparticles have been tested in terms of entrapment efficiency and also carried out in vitro experiments in 2D cell culture (viability studies on B6KPC3, A549 and HT-29 cells) and 3D cell model (spheroids made of HTC-116) and in vivo experiments (by injecting intravenously to mice the nanoparticles or comparative oxaliplatin solution) to prove their efficiency.

Techniques regarding the transportation of molecular cargo across the BBB are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a chemical compound to facilitate molecular encapsulation of the molecular cargo. The chemical compound can comprise a diblock copolymer having a molecular backbone comprising a polycarbonate structure and a polyethylene glycol structure. Also, the polycarbonate structure can be functionalized with boronic acid.

Disclosed are modified pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) peptides, particulate carrier prodrugs thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides or particulate carrier prodrugs. The peptides, particulate carrier prodrugs, and pharmaceutical compositions may be used to treat diseases and disorders that are amenable to treatment with anti-angiogenic agents, anti-tumorigenic agents, anti-fibrotic agents, chemotherapy-protecting agents, and immune stimulating agents

The invention relates to a nanostructured delivery system comprising at least one polymer and/or at least one lipid and at least one polymethine dye, wherein the at least one polymethine dye acting as a targeting unit brings about the targeted transport of the nanostructured delivery system into a target issue. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition and the uses of the nanostructured delivery system for transporting said system and, optionally, a pharmaceutical active ingredient into the target tissue, as well for treating liver and/or kidney diseases.

Described herein are carrier nanoparticles comprising a polymer containing a polyol coupled to a polymer containing a nitroboronic boronic acid and a linkage cleavable under reducing conditions, configured to present the polymer containing the nitroboronic acid to an environment external to the nanoparticle. Targeted versions of the described nanoparticles are also described, as are related compositions, methods and systems.

Methods for efficient preparation of drug-polymer (or oligomer) conjugates useful in the preparation of particles, including microparticles and nanoparticles, for delivery of the drug in vivo for therapeutic applications are provided. The invention also provides nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation using drug-polymer/oligomer conjugates of the invention. The drug conjugates are formed during polymerization of the polymer or oligomer in which the drug is employed as an initiator of the polymerization of the monomers which form the polymer and/or oligomer. More specifically, the drug conjugates are formed by ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers in the presence of an appropriate ring-opening polymerization catalyst and the initiator (the drug). The method is particularly useful for formation of polymer/oligomer conjugates with drugs and other chemical species containing one or more hydroxyl groups or thiol groups.

Peptides effective as delta opioid receptor agonists and compositions comprising same are provided. Further provided are methods for targeting medical conditions amenable to treatment with an opioid receptor agonist, including but not limited to, conditions involving pain as well as reducing cocaine craving.

The present invention generally relates to the formation, chemistry and application of biologically active compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to certain dyes, specifically porphyrin and chlorin derivatives, in combination with inventive polymers, i.e. light-cleavable polymers, that can be used as photosensitizer compositions for a wide range of light irradiation treatments such as photodynamic therapy of cancer, infections and other diseases. The dye derivatives may either be adsorbed on, or incorporated in, or attached to specific polymers, which as well form part of the invention.

Compounds that are fatty acid synthesis modulators are provided. The compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions to treat taxane-resistant cancers. Methods are provided for treating taxane-resistant cancer in a subject. Methods are also provided for increasing the sensitivity of a cancer cell to taxanes (i.e., paclitaxel, Nab-paclitaxel docetaxel, and/or cabazitaxel) treatment.