title: Metal-containing and related polymers for biomedical applications.
abstract: A survey of the most recent progress in the biomedical applications of metal-containing polymers is given. Due to the unique optical, electrochemical, and magnetic properties, at least 30 different metal elements, most of them transition metals, are introduced into polymeric frameworks for interactions with biology-relevant substrates via various means. Inspired by the advance of metal-containing small molecular drugs and promoted by the great progress in polymer chemistry, metal-containing polymers have gained momentum during recent decades. According to their different applications, this review summarizes the following biomedical applications: (1) metal-containing polymers as drug delivery vehicles; (2) metal-containing polymeric drugs and biocides, including antimicrobial and antiviral agents, anticancer drugs, photodynamic therapy agents, radiotherapy agents and biocides; (3) metal-containing polymers as biosensors, and (4) metal-containing polymers in bioimaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. tang4@mailbox.sc.edu yanyi@nwpu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jiuyang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Chuanbing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D008670:Metals; D011108:Polymers