Polymer conjugates as therapeutics: future trends, challenges and opportunities.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical proof of concept for polymer conjugates has already been achieved over the last 30 years, with a family of polymer-protein conjugates reaching the market and an exponentially growing list of polymer-drug conjugates currently in clinical trials. However, many challenges and opportunities still lie ahead, providing scope to develop this platform technology further.


METHODS
The delivery of new anticancer agents aimed at novel molecular targets and their combination, the development of both new polymeric materials with defined architectures and the treatment of diseases other than cancer are the most exciting and promising areas. The latest advances and future trends in the polymer conjugate field will be presented in this article, providing an insight into their potential in the clinics and offering a wide range of research approaches within the scientific community.


CONCLUSIONS
Polymer therapeutics is a rapidly emerging field with exponentially growing opportunities to achieve medical treatments with highly enhanced therapeutic value.
Vicent
María J
MJ
Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Avenue Autopista del Saler 16, E-46012 Valencia, Spain. mjvicent@cipf.es
Dieudonné
Lucile
L
Carbajo
Rodrigo J
RJ
Pineda-Lucena
Antonio
A
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers