US 12,213,997 B1
Compositions and methods for supporting nucleus pulposus (NP) cell phenotype and biosynthesis
Lori Setton, St. Louis, MO (US); Marcos Barcellona, St. Louis, MO (US); and Julie Speer, St. Louis, MO (US)
Assigned to Washington University, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Lori Setton, St. Louis, MO (US); Marcos Barcellona, St. Louis, MO (US); and Julie Speer, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/165,011.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/969,982, filed on Feb. 4, 2020.
Int. Cl. A61K 35/32 (2015.01); A61K 35/545 (2015.01); A61K 47/60 (2017.01); C07K 14/78 (2006.01); C12N 5/077 (2010.01)
CPC A61K 35/32 (2013.01) [A61K 35/545 (2013.01); A61K 47/60 (2017.08); C07K 14/78 (2013.01); C12N 5/0654 (2013.01)] 42 Claims
 
1. A biocompatible composition comprising:
a PEG maleimide biocompatible polymer component; and
at least one cell-adhesive peptide,
wherein
the cell-adhesive peptide is between about 5 and about 30 amino acids long;
the cell-adhesive peptide comprises at least one syndecan-binding or integrin-binding peptide selected from SEQ ID NO: 1, CGG-terminated SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, and C-terminated SEQ ID NO: 2;
the cell-adhesive peptide is coupled to the biocompatible polymer component to form a cell-adhesive peptide-functionalized monomer;
the cell-adhesive peptide-functionalized monomer is crosslinked to form a cell-adhesive peptide-functionalized polymer, wherein the cell-adhesive peptide-functionalized polymer has a density greater than 10% (w/v);
the biocompatible composition has a stiffness of about 10 kPa; and
the biocompatible composition comprises a cell-adhesive peptide density between about 50 μM and about 100 μM sufficient to support nucleus pulposus (NP) cell-specific morphology, biosynthesis, or phenotype.