Table 1.

Architectures and assemblies of ELP drug carriers

Application	ELP sequence	Pertinent functionalization	Ref
Recombinant protein purification	(VPGXG)36 X=K1V7F1	Cecropin AD antimicrobial peptide with enterokinase cleavage site	[31]
	(VPGXG)90 X=V5A2G3	Halocidin18 antimicrobial peptide with hydroxylamine cleavage site	[34]
	(VPGXG)110 X=V5A2G3	Moricin CM4 and human β-defensin 4 antimicrobial peptides with intein cleavage sites	[37]
	(VPGVG)240	SrtA transpeptidase for site-specific cleavage and triglycine addition	[38]
	(VPGXG)90 X=A2G3V5	TNFα and TRAIL apoptosis-inducing cytokines with SrtA cleavage sites
Therapeutic protein ELP fusions	(VPGXG)90 X=V5G3A2	IL-1ra anti-inflammatory cytokine	[39]
	(VPGVG)27	IL-4 and IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokines	[19, 40]
	(VPGVG)n n=5–240	IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokine and EPO hematopoietic cytokine	[17]
	(VPGXG)100 X=V, G, or A	HIV neutralizing antibody	[41]
	(VPGXG)100 X=V5G3A2	TNF-VHH inhibitor for prevention of septic shock	[18]
Targeted peptide ELP fusions	[AP1-(VGVPG)12]6	AP1 peptide for tumor homing to IL-4 receptor	[42]
	(VPGXG)120 X=V1G7A8	TAT, MTS, and penetratin CPPs for enhanced cellular uptake and intracellular delivery of p21 peptide drug	[43]
Therapeutic small molecule drug ELP conjugates	(VPGXG)150 X=V5A2G3 and (VPGXG)160 X=V1A8G7	Lysine residue for conjugation of chemotherapeutic doxorubicin with acid-cleavable hydrazone linker	[44]
	(VPGXG)180 X=V5A2G3	Cysteine residue for conjugation of chemotherapeutic doxorubicin with acid-cleavable hydrazone linker	[45]
	(VPGXG)150 X=V5A2G3 and (VPGXG)160 X=V1A8G7	Cysteine residue for conjugation of chemotherapeutic doxorubicin with enzyme-cleavable peptide linker and TAT CPP for enhanced cellular uptake	[46]
Block copolymer ELP assemblies	(VPGXG)96 [X=V1A8G7]-(VPGVG)60	RGD and NGR peptide at hydrophilic terminus for multivalent display of ligands for receptors on tumor vasculature	[47]
	(VPGXG)64 [X=V1A8G7]-(VPGVG)90	NGR peptide at hydrophilic terminus for multivalent display of ligand for CD13 receptors on tumor vasculature	[48]
	(VPGSG)48-(VPGIG)48	Knob protein at hydrophilic terminus for multivalent display of CAR ligand	[49]
		FKBP protein at hydrophilic terminus for rapamycin drug binding	[50, 51]
Conjugation-driven ELP assemblies	(VPGXG)160 X=V1A8G7	(GGC)8 peptide for conjugation of chemotherapeutic doxorubicin	[52]
		C(GGC)7 peptide for conjugation of chemotherapeutic paclitaxel	[53]
ELP polyplexes	(VPGXG)60 X=V5A2G3	K8 cationic peptide for ionic complexation with GFP-encoding plasmid DNA	[54]
Coacervate ELP nanoparticles	(VPAVG)220	Physical encapsulation of BMP-2 and BMP-14 cytokines for promotion of bone growth	[55]
	[VG-(VPGVG)4-VPG]8-[VG-(VPGVG)2-VPGCG-VPGVG-VPG]2	KGF protein for promotion of wound healing	[56]
Cross-linked ELP particles	[(VPGVG)4-(VPGKG)]8-(VPGVG)40	Lysine residues for glutaraldehyde cross-linking of solid microparticles with physical loading of model drugs BSA and prednisone acetate	[57]
	[(VPGVG)14-(VPGKG)]8-(VPGVG)40	Lysine residues for glutaraldehyde cross-linking of core-shell microparticles with physical loading of model drugs rhodamine B, FITC, and rhodamine-BSA	[58]
	EP20–244 (composed of exons from human elastin: 20-(21-23-24)4)	Lysine and glutamine residues for transglutaminase cross-linking of hollow spheres with physical loading of plasmid DNA polyplexes	[59]