title: Amyloid as a depot for the formulation of long-acting drugs.
abstract: Amyloids are highly organized protein aggregates that are associated with both neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease and benign functions like skin pigmentation. Amyloids self-polymerize in a nucleation-dependent manner by recruiting their soluble protein/peptide counterpart and are stable against harsh physical, chemical, and biochemical conditions. These extraordinary properties make amyloids attractive for applications in nanotechnology. Here, we suggest the use of amyloids in the formulation of long-acting drugs. It is our rationale that amyloids have the properties required of a long-acting drug because they are stable depots that guarantee a controlled release of the active peptide drug from the amyloid termini. This concept is tested with a family of short- and long-acting analogs of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and it is shown that amyloids thereof can act as a source for the sustained release of biologically active peptides.
authors.affiliation: Structural Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Samir K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Maji
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rivier
authors.forename: Soon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jean E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rivier
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riek
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid; D001682:Biological Availability; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers