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POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS AND NANOMEDICINES
Jiyuan Yang1, Jindřich Kopeček2
1Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology
|December 22, 2015
Summary
Smart biomaterials and polymer-drug conjugates are closely linked. Research shows self-assembling hydrogels inspire drug-free therapeutics by targeting CD20 receptors for apoptosis, offering a new drug delivery paradigm.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Hydrogels based on poly(meth)acrylic acid esters and substituted amides have been systematically studied.
- Water-soluble polymers, particularly poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA)] conjugates, are established drug carriers.
- HPMA copolymer carriers with degradable backbones represent the current state-of-the-art.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the close relationship between smart biomaterial design and water-soluble polymer-drug conjugates.
- To highlight design principles for water-soluble polymers as drug carriers.
- To introduce a new paradigm of drug-free macromolecular therapeutics inspired by self-assembling hydrogels.
Main Methods:
- Systematic studies of hydrogels based on crosslinked poly(meth)acrylic acid esters and substituted amides.
- Design and evaluation of water-soluble poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA)] copolymer carriers.
- Development of self-assembling hybrid hydrogels using synthetic backbones and biorecognizable grafts (peptides, oligonucleotides).
Main Results:
- Lessons learned from hydrogel design informed the development of effective water-soluble polymer drug carriers.
- The design of backbone-degradable HPMA copolymer carriers was advanced.
- Self-assembling hybrid hydrogels inspired the creation of drug-free macromolecular therapeutics targeting CD20 receptors.
- Crosslinking of CD20 receptors via biorecognition induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo without low molecular weight drugs.
Conclusions:
- A strong link exists between smart biomaterial design and polymer-drug conjugate development.
- Self-assembling hydrogels provide a foundation for innovative, drug-free therapeutic strategies.
- Biorecognition-mediated crosslinking of cell surface receptors represents a promising new approach in drug delivery.
