Formulations for targeted release of agents under low pH conditions and methods of use thereof

1. A polymeric formulation comprising a poly(amine-co-ester-co-ortho ester) or poly(amine-co-amide-co-ortho ester) having the following formula:

wherein each occurrence of m is an integer between 1 and 30, inclusive,

each occurrence of n, p, and q is independently an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive,

each occurrence of t, u, v, and w is independently an integer between 1 and 1000, inclusive, and

J and Z are independently O or NR′, wherein R′ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl,

wherein the ortho ester has the following formula:

wherein r and s are independently an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive,

wherein R 4 , R iv , and R v are independently hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, aroxy, substituted aroxy, alkylthio, substituted alkylthio, arylthio, substituted arylthio, carbonyl, substituted carbonyl, carboxyl, substituted carboxyl, amino, substituted amino, amido, substituted amido, polyaryl, substituted polyaryl, C 3 -C 20 cyclic, substituted C 3 -C 20 cyclic, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, amino acid, poly(ethylene glycol), peptide, or polypeptide group, and

wherein the ortho ester is covalently attached to the rest of the poly(amine-co-ester-co-ortho ester) or poly(amine-co-amide-co-ortho ester) at points d and/or e.

2. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein J and Z are each O.

3. The formulation of claim 2 , wherein m is an integer between 1 and 16, inclusive.

4. The formulation of claim 3 , wherein n is an integer between 1 and 10, inclusive.

5. The formulation of claim 4 , wherein p and q are the same integer between 1 and 6, inclusive.

6. The formulation of claim 5 , wherein R 4 is alkyl or aryl.

7. The formulation of claim 6 , wherein r and s are the same integer between 1 and 20, inclusive.

8. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein

m is 14, n is 7, p and q are 2, R 4 is methyl, and r ands are 1, 5, or 9.

9. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the poly(amine-co-ester-co-ortho ester) or poly(amine-co-amide-co-ortho ester) further comprises a block of alkylene oxide.

10. The formulation of claim 9 having the formula:

wherein

m is an integer between 1 and 30, inclusive,

n, p, and q are independently an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive,

t, u, v, w and x are independently integers between 1 and 1000, inclusive, and

J and Z are independently O or NR′, wherein R′ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl.

11. The formulation of claim 9 having the structure:

wherein

m is an integer from between 1 and 30, inclusive,

n, p and q are independently an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive,

t, u, v, w and x are independently integers between 1 and 1000, inclusive, and

J and Z are independently O or NR′, wherein R′ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl.

12. The formulation of claim 1 , comprising molecules to be delivered to a compartment of a cell, wherein the molecules are released at the pH of the compartment.

13. The formulation of claim 12 wherein the molecules and the poly(amine-co-ester-co-ortho ester) or poly(amine-co-amide-co-ortho ester) are precipitated together and formed into nanoparticles.

14. A method of delivering molecules to a compartment of a cell in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering the nanoparticles of claim 13 in an effective amount to the individual or cells of the individual in need thereof.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the nanoparticles are delivered to tissues of the individual having a low pH at which the molecules are released.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the nanoparticles are delivered to tissues of the individual that are cancerous, septic, poorly vascularized, infected, or necrotic.

17. A method for making nanoparticles for delivering molecules to a compartment of a cell, wherein the molecules are released at the pH of the compartment, comprising

(i) providing a poly(amine-co-ester-co-ortho ester) or poly(amine-co-amides-co-orthoester) having the following formula:

wherein each occurrence of m is an integer between 1 and 30, inclusive,

each occurrence of n, p, and q, is independently an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive, each occurrence of t, u, v, and w is independently an integer between 1 and 1000, inclusive, and

J and Z are independently O or NR′,

wherein R′ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl,

wherein the ortho ester has the following formula:

wherein r and s are independently an integer between 1 and 20, inclusive,

R 4 , R iv , and R v are independently hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, aroxy, substituted aroxy, alkylthio, substituted alkylthio, arylthio, substituted arylthio, carbonyl, substituted carbonyl, carboxyl, substituted carboxyl, amino, substituted amino, amido, substituted amido, polyaryl, substituted polyaryl, C 3 -C 20 cyclic, substituted C 3 -C 20 cyclic, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, amino acid, poly(ethylene glycol), peptide, or polypeptide group,

wherein the ortho ester is covalently attached to the rest of the poly(amine-co-ester-co-ortho ester) or poly(amine-co-amide-co-ortho ester) at points d and/or e,

(ii) precipitating the molecules by mixing the poly(amine-co-ester-co-ortho ester) or poly(amine-co-amide-co-ortho ester) with the molecules in a solution, and

(iii) forming precipitate into nanoparticles.