Novel Therapeutics Involving Antibiotic Polymer Conjugates for Treating Various Ailments: A Review

Antibiotic polymer conjugates (APCs) are an essential part of polymer therapeutics. These conjugates have been used as an appealing platform for drug delivery. As a delivery vector, the administration route severely impacts the accessibility of antibiotics to their respective target site and therapeutic index. Furthermore, the physicochemical and biological properties of conjugates also correlate distinctly with the route of administration. The APCs delivery methods that have been disclosed so far suffer from significant constraints due to poor technology and constrained administration routes (mainly injections). Leading to promising directions, which include the development of specific characteristics for each polymer carrier, application of novel biodegradable polymers, expansion of traditional drug administration routes through the development of emerging routes, and the development of a rational and systematic methodology for designing administration routes are yet to be explored widely. This review focuses primarily on recent improvements in various routes of administration (dental, topical, and ocular) employing APCs. The mechanism of action, as well as other perspectives, have also been discussed. Moreover, this innovative technology provides a fresh perspective on pharmaceutical science research and offers unique and potential pathways for designing desired APCs.