Phosphorylcholine Polymer Conjugation Improves the Pharmaceutical Performance of Protein Therapeutics.
Zwitterionic polymers boost protein drugs - longer chains mean less immune attack, longer lifespan, and better treatment. A game-changer for protein therapeutics.
This study used thiol-maleimide click chemistry to create poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)-uricase (PMPC-UOX) conjugates with varying polymer chain lengths. Longer PMPC chains reduced immunological phagocytosis, extended plasma half-life, lowered immunogenicity, and improved therapeutic outcomes compared to native protein and shorter-chain conjugates. This demonstrates the critical role of zwitterionic polymer chain length in optimizing the in vivo performance of protein drugs, paving the way for enhanced protein therapeutics across many diseases.