Recent Progress in Polymer Therapeutics as Nanomedicines - Harnessing Biomaterials in Nanomedicine: Preparation, Toxicity, and Applications - page 110

human safety for any new polymeric nanomedicine. Furthermore,
there is still a need to improve the characterization of these NCEs,
in order to facilitate their entry to clinical trials. There are still
challenges to ensure the safe and rapid translation of polymer
therapeutics into routine clinical use.
A big step forward was the discovery and utilization of the EPR
eff ect for passive targeting. Unquestionably, it is one of the main
factors that have promoted the field of polymer therapeutics [166].
However, there is still a need to gain more information regarding
the individual tumor types and metastases in humans, for improved
efficiency and specificity of the pro-drugs.
Nevertheless, the field of polymer therapeutics has seen a
significant progress with the entry of PEGylated proteins into the
market [15], together with the flourish in all polymer therapeutics
studies in recent years. The implementation of targeting moieties
and combinations of therapeutics on the same polymeric nanocarrier
may take us the extra step toward a smart therapeutic system, which
holds a true advantage over existing therapies. The desirable goal
of specific and controlled drug release, with minimal side eff ects, is
coming into being. The use of polymers as carriers together with the
innovations in the polymer chemistry area and further understanding
of cell biology (i.e., mechanism of binding and uptake of the polymers,
biodistribution, etc.), will eventually result in the rational design of
eff ective drug delivery systems and their extensive use in cancer and
other related diseases, such as angiogenesis-dependent ones.
References
1. Ringsdorf, H., Structure and properties of pharmacologically active
polymers. J. Polym. Sci. Symp., 1975. 51 : p. 135-153.
2. Matsumura, Y. and H. Maeda, A New Concept for Macromolecular
Therapeutics in Cancer-Chemotherapy — Mechanism of Tumoritropic
Accumulation of Proteins and the Antitumor Agent Smancs. Cancer
Research, 1986. 46 (12): p. 6387-6392.
3. Maeda, H., et al., Tumor vascular permeability and the EPR effect
in macromolecular therapeutics: a review. J Control Release, 2000.
65 (1-2): p. 271-284.
4. Sanchis, J., et al., Polymer-drug conjugates for novel molecular targets.
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