Drugs synthetic polymers

Duncan, R. and Kopecek, J. Soluble Synthetic Polymers as Potential Drug Carriers. Vol. 57, pp. 51 —10 . 

The application areas for LC-MS, as will be illustrated later, are diverse, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative determinations of both high-and low-molecular-weight materials, including synthetic polymers, biopolymers, environmental pollutants, pharmaceutical compounds (drugs and their metabolites) and natural products. In essence, it is used for any compounds which are found in complex matrices for which HPLC is the separation method of choice and where the mass spectrometer provides the necessary selectivity and sensitivity to provide quantitative information and/or it provides structural information that cannot be obtained by using other detectors. 

Polymeric drugs are macromolecules that elicit biological activity (7). Many synthetic polymers are biologically inert. However, some exhibit toxicity, while others exhibit a wide range of therapeutic activities. There are three kinds of polymer drugs polycations, polyanions, and polynucleotides. 

Synthetic Polymers. Synthetic polymers are versatile and offer promise for both targeting and extracellular-intracellular drug delivery. Of the many soluble synthetic polymers known, the poly(amino acids) [poly(L-lysine), poly(L-aspartic acid), and poly(glutamic acid)], poly(hydroxypropylmethacrylamide) copolymers (polyHPMA), and maleic anhydride copolymers have been investigated extensively, particularly in the treatment of cancers. A brief discussion of these materials is presented. 

R Duncan, M Bhakoo, PA Flanagan, D Sgouras. Evaluation of the biocompatibihty of soluble synthetic polymers designed as drug carriers. Proc Int Symp Controlled Release Bioact Mater 15 121-122, 1988. 

Many polymers have been studied for their usefulness in producing pharmacologically active complexes with proteins or drugs. Synthetic and natural polymers such as polysaccharides, poly(L-lysine) and other poly(amino acids), poly(vinyl alcohols), polyvinylpyrrolidinones, poly(acrylic acid) derivatives, various polyurethanes, and polyphosphazenes have been coupled to with a diversity of substances to explore their properties (Duncan and Kopecek, 1984 Braatz et al., 1993). Copolymer preparations of two monomers also have been tried (Nathan et al., 1993). 

Duncan, R., and Kopecek, J. (1984) Soluble synthetic polymers as potential drug carriers. Adv. Polym. Sci. 57, 53-101. 

Soluble synthetic polymers have been widely employed as versatile drug carrier systems. Polymer chemistry allows the development of tailor made conjugates in which target moi-... 

To characterize the affinity of drugs to pharmaceutical excipients (polysaccharides, other native and synthetic polymers, cyclodextrins, etc.) and vehicle systems (micelles, microemulsions, and liposomes)... 

Microencapsulation means the envelopment of liquid droplets or solid particles with natural or synthetic polymers.The encapsulation of a substance with a polymer membrane is undertaken for various reasons, for example, as protection against moisture, or to obtain delayed dissolution of fertilizers, herbicides, or drugs by microencapsulation with semipermeable membranes. 

Protein drugs have been formulated with excipients intended to stabilize the protein in the milieu of the pharmaceutical product. It has long been known that a variety of low molecular weight compounds have the effect of preserving the activity of proteins and enzymes in solution. These include simple salts, buffer salts and polyhydroxylated compounds such as glycerol, mannitol, sucrose and polyethylene glycols. Certain biocompatible polymers have also been applied for this purpose such as polysaccharides and synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone and even nonionic surfactants. 

Table 1A. Synthetic polymers used as anticancer drug carriers... 

Hunter AC, Moghimi SM. Therapeutic synthetic polymers a game of Russian roulette Drug Dis Today 2002 7(19) 998. 

Chaubal MY. Synthetic polymer-based ion exchange resins excipients and actives. Drug Deliv Tech 2003 3(5). 

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