Engineering Cyclic Peptides For Oral Bioavailability (2015-2017)
Abstract
The 21st century has become the age of injectable peptide therapeutics. To fully realise their benefits, peptide drugs need to become smaller, cheaper and orally deliverable. Proteins often exhibit their potent and selective biological actions through small peptide surfaces. These surfaces have been mimicked in cyclic peptides that are similarly potent and selective. However, they do not have the right properties to be oral drugs. This project aims to rectify their deficiencies by re-engineering their surfaces to survive degradation in the gut, permeate membranes and withstand clearance from blood. Outcomes will be new information and technology for downsizing proteins to small orally bioavailable peptides for therapeutic applications.
