The dawning era of polymer therapeutics.
As we enter the twenty-first century, research at the interface of polymer chemistry and the biomedical sciences has given rise to the first nano-sized (5-100 nm) polymer-based pharmaceuticals, the 'polymer therapeutics'. Polymer therapeutics include rationally designed macromolecular drugs, polymer-drug and polymer-protein conjugates, polymeric micelles containing covalently bound drug, and polyplexes for DNA delivery. The successful clinical application of polymer-protein conjugates, and promising clinical results arising from trials with polymer-anticancer-drug conjugates, bode well for the future design and development of the ever more sophisticated bio-nanotechnologies that are needed to realize the full potential of the post-genomic age.
Duncan
Ruth
R
Centre for Polymer Therapeutics, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3XF, UK. duncanr@cf.ac.uk
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers