Synthetic polymer systems in drug development.
The use of synthetic polymers in drug discovery is reviewed, with particular reference to the increasing number of chemistries for therapeutic candidate preparation that employ linear polymers possessing differential solubilities in a variety of solvents. The uses of these polymers as primary components in liquid-phase organic synthesis, particularly applied to the generation of chemical compound libraries, are discussed, along with the challenges facing synthetic chemists and pharmaceutical scientists in preparing new and more efficient supports. The advantages inherent to the emerging field of liquid-phase combinatorial synthesis (LPCS) are considered and a number of key therapeutic targets prepared by newer polymer-supported routes are highlighted. Finally, the potential development issues for both liquid and solid-phase organic chemistries applied to parallel or combinatorial synthesis are discussed, taking into account future trends in the drug discovery and development process as a whole.
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St Michael's Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK. cameron.alexander@port.ac.uk
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