Enhanced affinity hyaluronan binding peptides

A hyaluronic acid (HA)-binding peptide consisting of:

• (a) a sequence of the formula I:
• X1-X2-X1-X3-X4-X3-X4-X3-X3-X3-X5-X6-X6-X6-X1
• wherein
• each X1 is independently selected from a hydroxy amino acid residue;
• each X2 is independently selected from a sulfur containing amino acid residue;
• each X3 is independently selected from a basic amino acid residue;
• each X4 is independently selected from an imino or aromatic amino acid residue;
• each X5 is independently selected from a dicarboxylic acid amino acid residue;
• and
• each X6 is independently selected from an aliphatic amino acid residue;
• (b) a sequence of the formula II:
• Y1-Y1-Y2-Y2-Y1-Y3-Y1-Y3-Y3-Y1-Y3-Y1-Y2-Y3-Y3
• wherein
• each Y1 is independently selected from a hydroxy amino acid residue;
• each Y2 is independently selected from a sulfur containing amino acid residue;
• and
• each Y3 is independently selected from a basic amino acid residue;
• or
• (c) a sequence of the formula III:
• Z1-Z1-Z2-Z2-Z1-Z3-Z1-Z3-Z3-Z1-Z3-Z1-Z3-Z3
• wherein
• each Z1 is independently selected from a hydroxy amino acid residue;
• each Z2 is independently selected from a sulfur containing amino acid residue;
• and
• each Z3 is independently selected from a basic amino acid residue.