Poly(glutamic acid- block -tyrosine) peptides designed for gastrointestinal drug adsorption

Abstract

, with adsorption behavior dependent on drug characteristics. Exploratory fed-state experiments demonstrated that adsorbent properties are retained in the presence of a complex nutrient matrix and vary depending on drug properties. Preliminary enzyme degradation studies indicated gradual proteolysis under gastrointestinal conditions, and cytocompatibility assays with fibroblasts and macrophages showed no overt toxicity across relevant concentrations. Collectively, these results demonstrate that synthetic polypeptides can be engineered to achieve efficient, clinically relevant drug adsorption while offering advantages in biocompatibility, degradability, and tunability. This work establishes a foundation for next-generation gastrointestinal decontamination materials beyond activated charcoal.