AMPHIPHILIC PEPTIDES FOR THORACIC AIR LEAKAGE OCCLUSION

摘要

Provided are compounds and methods useful for sealing air leaks in the thoracic cavity. Compounds and compositions of the invention comprise certain amphiphilic peptides, 8-200 amino acid residues long, that self-assemble spontaneously to form a gel in the presence of physiological pH and/or in the presence of a cation. In one embodiment, the peptide comprises a repeated sequence arginine-alanine-aspartic acid- alanine (RADA). Methods of the invention include a method of occluding a pulmonary air leak in a subject, comprising applying a compound of the invention to the site of a pulmonary air leak. The compounds and methods of the invention can be combined with other agents useful to treat cancer, inflammation, or infection.