title: HPMA copolymers: origins, early developments, present, and future.
abstract: The overview covers the discovery of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers, initial studies on their synthesis, evaluation of biological properties, and explorations of their potential as carriers of biologically active compounds in general and anticancer drugs in particular. The focus is on the research in the authors' laboratory - the development of macromolecular therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and musculoskeletal diseases. In addition, the evaluation of HPMA (co)polymers as building blocks of modified and new biomaterials is presented: the utilization of semitelechelic poly(HPMA) and HPMA copolymers for the modification of biomaterial and protein surfaces and the design of hybrid block and graft HPMA copolymers that self-assemble into smart hydrogels. Finally, suggestions for the design of second-generation macromolecular therapeutics are portrayed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA. Jindrich.kopecek@utah.edu
authors.forename: Jindrich
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopecek
authors.forename: Pavla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kopecková
mesh_terms: D000178:Acrylamides / Q000266:history*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000266:history; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011108:Polymers; C032976:N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide