Protein-poly(2-oxazoline) conjugates for enhanced cellular delivery and transport across biological barriers

1. A polymer-polypeptide conjugate comprising at least one amphiphilic block copolymer linked to at least one polypeptide,

wherein said amphiphilic block copolymer comprises at least one hydrophilic segment and at least one hydrophobic segment, wherein said hydrophilic segment is a hydrophilic poly(2-oxazoline), wherein said hydrophobic segment is a hydrophobic poly(2-oxazoline), and wherein said amphiphilic block copolymer comprises the formula:

wherein x and y are independently selected between 10 and about 100; one of R 1 and R 2 is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —NH 2 , —SH, —CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 3 , and an alkyl comprising 1 or 2 carbon atoms; and the other R group is an alkyl or an aryl.

2. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic segment is poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) or poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline).

3. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophobic segment is poly(2-butyl-2-oxazoline).

4. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is a therapeutic agent, a diagnostic agent, or a cosmetic agent.

5. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said amphiphilic block copolymer is linked to said polypeptide via a linker.

6. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said amphiphilic block copolymer is covalently linked to said polypeptide.

7. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said amphiphilic copolymer comprises the formula:

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —NH 2 , —SH, —CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 3 , and an alkyl comprising 1 or 2 carbon atoms; and R 2 is an alkyl or an aryl.

8. A composition comprising at least one conjugate of claim 1 and at least one carrier.

9. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is linked to a terminus of said amphiphilic block copolymer.

10. The conjugate of claim 5 , wherein said polypeptide is linked to a terminus of said amphiphilic block copolymer via said linker.

11. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic segment is poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) or poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and wherein said hydrophobic segment is poly(2-butyl-2-oxazoline).

12. The conjugate of claim 11 , wherein said amphiphilic block copolymer is (2-methyl-2-oxazoline) 50 -(2-butyl-2-oxazoline) 20 or (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) 50 -(2-butyl-2-oxazoline) 20 .

13. The conjugate of claim 11 , wherein said polypeptide is linked to a terminus of said amphiphilic block copolymer via said linker and wherein said polypeptide is superoxide dismutase.

14. The conjugate of claim 12 , wherein said polypeptide is linked to a terminus of said amphiphilic block copolymer via said linker and wherein said polypeptide is superoxide dismutase.

15. The conjugate of claim 13 , wherein said linker is non-biodegradable.

16. The conjugate of claim 14 , wherein said linker is non-biodegradable.

17. The conjugate of claim 5 , wherein said linker is non-biodegradable.

18. The conjugate of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is linked to a terminus of said hydrophobic segment of said amphiphilic block copolymer.

19. The conjugate of claim 5 , wherein said polypeptide is linked to a terminus of said hydrophobic segment of said amphiphilic block copolymer via said linker.

20. The conjugate of claim 11 , wherein said polypeptide is linked to the terminus of said poly(2-butyl-2-oxazoline).