Polymers as Drugs

Another approach involves inclusion of a cisplatin-like moiety into a polymer where the polymer may act as a drug itself, and/or as a controlled release agent similar to that noted above. Here we will focus on the requirements for the use of these polymers as drugs themselves. These requirements are also reviewed elsewhere and share characteristics with the requirements for polymer carriers described earlier.  

It is hoped that inclusion of the cisplatin-like moiety into a polymer will achieve the following  

Enhance activity through an increased opportunity for multiple bonding interactions at a given site (chemical bonding, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, etc.). 

In a related mode, the metal, incorporated via Pt N bonds as before, yet no longer functions as a mainchain constituent. Instead, it is coordinated by one or two nucleophilic nitrogen donors, generally amino groups, preintroduced into presynthesized carrier polymers. The Pt N anchoring mode will be the topic of Section IX. 

In stiU another polymer-binding mode, the metal is coordinated by carrier-attached ligands of the leaving group type, notably carboxylato or hydroxylato ligands. This important case of platinum coordination will be discussed in Section X. 

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AUcock HR (1990) In Chasin M, hanger R (eds) Biodegradable polymers as drug delivery systems. Dekker, New York, chap 5, p 163... 

Kohn, J. In Biodegradable Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems Chasin M. Langer, R., Eds. Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, 1990, Vol. 45, pp. 195-229. 

Biodegradable Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems, edited by Mark Chasin and Robert Langer... 

Polymers as Drugs, Conjugates and Gene Delivery Systems... 

Duncan, R., Ringsdorf, H. and Satchi-Fainaro, R. Polymer Therapeutics Polymers as Drugs, Drug and Protein Conjugates and Gene Delivery Systems Past, Present and Future Opportunities. Vol. 192, pp. 1-8. 

There are 22 chapters in the book and they cover the most important aspects of polymers as drugs, prodrugs, dmg delivery systems, and in situ prostheses. The major features promulgated are synthesis, derivatization, degradation, characterization, application, and evaluation techniques as well as new biodegradable materials, assemblies, hydrogels, telechelic polymers, derivatized polysaccharides, micro- and nanoparticles, mimetic... 

Duncan R, Ringsdorf H, Satchi-Fainaro R (2006) Polymer therapeutics polymers as drugs, drug and protein conjugates and gene dehvery systems past, present and future opportunities. Adv Polym Sci 192 1-8... 

The application of dendritic polymers as drug delivery systems has gained interest mainly due to their inertness relative to temperature, solvent, and pH extremes [38]. However, dendritic polymers require further improvements in biocompability and biodistribution profiles. The cytotoxicity of dendrimers currently has been primarily studied in vitro. 

Pitt, C.G. (1990). Poly(e-caprolactone) and its copolymers. In Chasin, M., Langer, R., eds. Biodegradable Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems. Marcel Dekker, New York. 

Heller, J., Sparer, R., and Zentner, C. Biodegradable Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems, ed. M. Chasm and R. Langer. New York Marcel Dekker, 1990, pp. 121—161. 

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