Poly(HPMA-co-NIPAM) copolymer as an alternative to polyethylene glycol-based pharmacokinetic modulation of therapeutic proteins

• Published in: International journal of pharmaceutics Vol. 608; p. 121075
• Main Authors: Subasic, Christopher N., Ardana, Aditya, Chan, Linda J., Huang, Fei, Scoble, Judith A., Butcher, Neville J., Meagher, Laurence, Chiefari, John, Kaminskas, Lisa M., Williams, Charlotte C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.10.2021
• Subjects: PEG; Pharmacokinetics; Polymer pharmacokinetics; Polymers; Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain-Transfer (RAFT); Ð; Mn; MWCO; PEG; Polymer pharmacokinetics; Mw; Polymers; Pharmacokinetics; Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain-Transfer (RAFT)
• ISSN: 0378-5173; 1873-3476
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121075

[Display omitted] PEGylation is the standard approach for prolonging the plasma exposure of protein therapeutics but has limitations. We explored whether polymers prepared by Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain-Transfer (RAFT) may provide better alternatives to polyethylene glycol (PEG). Four RAFT polymers were synthesised with varying compositions, molar mass (Mn), and structures, including a homopolymer of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide, (pHPMA) and statistical copolymers of HPMA with poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate) p(HPMA-co-PEGA); HPMA and N-acryloylmorpholine, p(HPMA-co-NAM); and HPMA and N-isopropylacrylamide, p(HPMA-co-NIPAM). The intravenous pharmacokinetics of the polymers were then evaluated in rats. The in vitro activity and in vivo pharmacokinetics of p(HPMA-co-NIPAM)-conjugated trastuzumab Fab' and full length mAb were then evaluated. p(HPMA-co-NIPAM) prolonged plasma exposure more avidly compared to the other p(HPMA) polymers or PEG, irrespective of molecular weight. When conjugated to trastuzumab-Fab', p(HPMA-co-NIPAM) prolonged plasma exposure of the Fab' similar to PEG-Fab'. The generation of anti-PEG IgM in rats 7 days after intravenous and subcutaneous dosing of p(HPMA-co-NIPAM) conjugated trastuzumab mAb was also examined and was shown to exhibit lower immunogenicity than the PEGylated construct. These data suggest that p(HPMA-co-NIPAM) has potential as a promising copolymer for use as an alternative conjugation strategy to PEG, to prolong the plasma exposure of therapeutic proteins.