Disclosed are &bgr;-peptides and &bgr;-peptide conjugates that are capable of diffusing or otherwise being transported across the cell membranes of living cells. The &bgr;-peptides contain at least six &bgr;-amino acid residues, at leastsix of which are preferably &bgr;
3
-homoarginine residues. It has been found that when pharmacologically-active agents are conjugated to these types of &bgr;-peptides, the resulting conjugates (also disclosed herein) are also capable of diffusing or otherwise being transported across the cell membranes of living cells, including mammalian cells.
本发明揭示了能够扩散或通过细胞膜进入活细胞的β-肽和β-肽共轭物。该β-肽至少含有六个β-
氨基酸残基,其中至少有六个是优选的β3-同型精
氨酸残基。发现当药理活性剂与这些类型的β-肽结合时,所得到的共轭物(也在此处揭示)也能够扩散或通过细胞膜进入活细胞,包括哺乳动物细胞。