title: Block copolymeric biotransport carriers as versatile vehicles for drug delivery.
abstract: This review describes block copolymer-based systems that are used in drug formulation development. The use of amphiphilic block copolymers to modify pharmacological performance of various classes of drugs attracts more and more attention. This is largely attributable to the high tendency of block copolymer-based drug formulations to self-assemble, as well as flexibility of block copolymer chemistry, which allows precise tailoring of the carrier to virtually any chemical entity. Combination of these features allows adjustment of block copolymer-based drug formulations to achieve the most beneficial balance in drug biological interactions with the systems that control its circulation in and removal from the body and its therapeutic activity. The following major aspects are considered: 1) physical properties of formulations and the methods used to adjust these properties towards the highest pharmacological performance of the product; 2) combinatorial methods for optimisation of block copolymer-based formulations; 3) biological response modifying properties of block copolymer-based formulations.
authors.affiliation: Supratek Pharma, Inc., 531 Blvd. des Prairies, Building 18, Laval, Quebec H7B 1B7, Canada. valery.alakhov@supratek.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alakhov
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klinski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lemieux
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pietrzynski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kabanov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001692:Biological Transport; D002460:Cell Line; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D008823:Micelles; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005079:Excipients; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers