Polymeric therapy

The success of thrombus lysis depends mainly on how large the thrombus is and whether any blood flow stiU remains. The outcome is better the larger the surface of the entire thrombus exposed to the thrombolytic agent. As the clot ages, the polymerization of fibria cross-linking and other blood materials iacreases and it becomes more resistant to lysis. Therefore, the eadier the thrombolysis therapy starts, the higher the frequency of clot dissolution. Thrombolytic agents available are Hsted ia Table 7 (261—276). 

Functional dyes (1) of many types are important photochemical sensitizers for oxidation, polymerization, (polymer) degradation, isomerization, and photodynamic therapy. Often, dye stmctures from several classes of materials can fulfiH a similar technological need, and reviewing several dye stmctures... 

Strobel et al. (101) reported a unique approach to delivery of anticancer agents from lactide/glycolide polymers. The concept is based on the combination of misonidazole or adriamycin-releasing devices with radiation therapy or hyperthermia. Prototype devices consisted of orthodontic wire or sutures dip-coated with drug and polymeric excipient. The device was designed to be inserted through a catheter directly into a brain tumor. In vitro release studies showed the expected first-order release kinetics on the monolithic devices. 

SAR studies were carried out by de Bruyne et al. [92] on a series of dimeric procyanidins, considered as model compounds for antiviral therapies. On the whole, proanthocyanidins containing EC dimers exhibited more pronounced activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), while the presence of ortho-trihydroxyl groups in the B-ring appeared to be essential in all proanthocyanidins exhibiting anti-HSV effects. Galloylation and polymerization reinforced the antiviral activities markedly. 

The potential of liposomes in oral drug delivery has been largely disappointing. However, the use of polymer-coated, polymerized, and microencapsulated liposomes have all increased their potential for oral use [63], and it predicted that a greater understanding of their cellular processing will ultimately lead to effective therapies for oral liposomes. 

Re has been incorporated into biodegradable microcapsules formed by polymerization of isobutylcyanoacrylate in the presence of 186Re dispersed in organic solvent. With a mean diameter of 10-15 pm these particles were used for radioembolization therapy of B16 melanoma induced in mice. More than 90% of the injected radioactivity was trapped within the tumors and tumor growth retardation was observed [157],... 

Polymeric vesicles could be of better use for such an antitumor therapy on a cellular level, since they have at least one of the properties required, namely an extraordinary membrane stability. For a successful application, however, the simple systems prepared so far must be varied to a great extent, because the stability of a model cell membrane is not the only condition to be fulfilled. Besides stability and possibilities for cell recognition as discussed above the presence of cell membrane destructing substances such as lysophospholipids is necessary. These could e.g. be incorporated into the membrane of stabilized liposomes without destruction of the polymeric vesicles. There have already been reports about thekilling of tumor cells by synthetic alkyl lysophospholipids (72). 

Dye-doped polymeric beads are commonly employed in different formats (Fig. 5), namely as water-dispersible nanosensors, labels and in composite materials (DLR-referenced and multianalyte sensors, sensor arrays, magnetic materials, etc.). The sensing properties of the dye-doped beads are of little or no relevance in some more specific materials, e.g., the beads intended for photodynamic therapy (PDT). The different formats and applications of the beads will be discussed in more detail in the following section, and the relative examples of sensing materials will be given. 

Na K, Kim S, Park K, Kim K, Woo DG, Kwon IC, Chung HM, Park KH (2007) Heparin/poly(L-lysine) nanoparticle-coated polymeric microspheres for stem-cell therapy. J Am Chem Soc 129 5788-5789. 

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