Methods of using steroid-polyanionic polymer-based conjugated targeted to vascular endothelial cells
First Claim
1. A method for affecting angiogenesis in an animal, comprising administering to an animal a biologically effective amount of a pharmacological composition comprising a conjugate that comprises a polymer, said polymer being a heparin, conjugated to a selected steroidal agent or agents by means of a biologically releasable bond formed between a reactive group on the steroidal agent or agents and:
- a) a free amino group revealed on the polymer through removal of a sulfate, acetyl or acyl group or groups attached to said amino group;
b) a free carboxyl group on the polymer;
c) a reactive group derivatized onto the polymer;
ord) a combination of a), b) or c);
wherein the conjugate is further characterized as having a molar ratio of agent/polymer of greater than 1 mole agent/mole of polymer.
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Abstract
This invention discloses new targeted conjugates for the delivery of a compound, and particularly, a steroid, to vascular endothelial cells. The conjugates comprise two components, preferably linked by a selectively-hydrolyzable bond, such as an acid-labile bond or enzyme-sensitive bond. The first component, a polyanionic polymer, and preferably, a polysulphated polymer such as a heparin-derivative, specifically directs the conjugate to vascular endothelial cells. The second component is a selected agent, such as a steroid, which exerts a specific effect on the target cell following its release. In particular, the present invention provides novel conjugated angiogenesis inhibitors, for use in the treatment of pathogenic conditions including cancer, arthritis, and diabetic blindness. An inhibitor comprising a heparin derivative and the anti-angiogenic steroid, cortisol, is herein shown to be markedly acid-labile, to suppress DNA synthesis and cell migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, to retard or abolish (depending pending on the route of injection) the vascularization of sponges in vivo and to retard lung tumor growth in mice by 65%. No adverse effects of the conjugate were detected, and equivalent treatments with a mixture of heparin plus cortisol were significantly less effective in all cases.
110 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for affecting angiogenesis in an animal, comprising administering to an animal a biologically effective amount of a pharmacological composition comprising a conjugate that comprises a polymer, said polymer being a heparin, conjugated to a selected steroidal agent or agents by means of a biologically releasable bond formed between a reactive group on the steroidal agent or agents and:
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a) a free amino group revealed on the polymer through removal of a sulfate, acetyl or acyl group or groups attached to said amino group; b) a free carboxyl group on the polymer; c) a reactive group derivatized onto the polymer;
ord) a combination of a), b) or c); wherein the conjugate is further characterized as having a molar ratio of agent/polymer of greater than 1 mole agent/mole of polymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification