Targeting of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymers to liver by incorporation of galactose residues.
Soluble synthetic polymers have potential as targetable carriers of pharmacological agents. Here we report that incorporation into poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide)] of an oligopeptide side-chain terminating in galactose enhanced the polymer's pinocytic uptake from the rat bloodstream by the liver. Within the liver lysosomes enzymic digestion led to the intracellular release of a drug analogue also bound to oligopeptide side-chains of the polymer.
D000178:Acrylamides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011108:Polymers; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000178:Acrylamides; D001786:Blood Glucose; D011108:Polymers; C032976:N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide; D005690:Galactose