Development and characterization of a fusion protein between thermally responsive elastin‐like polypeptide and interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist: Sustained release of a local antiinflammatory therapeutic

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) has been evaluated for the intraarticular treatment of osteoarthritis. Such administration of proteins may have limited utility because of their rapid clearance and short half-life in the joint. The fusion of a drug to elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) promotes the formation of aggregating particles that form a "drug depot" at physiologic temperatures, a phenomenon intended to prolong the presence of the...