Poly(β-Malic Acid) as a Source of Polyvalent Drug Carriers: Possible Effects of Hydrophobic Substituents in Aqueous Media

Abstract

According to literature, the interest in investigating synthetic macromolecular compounds for uses in biology and medicine is rapidely increasing. On one hand, attention has been focussed on polymer based implants for prostheses, tissue restauration and drug-delivery devices. In these cases, macromolecular compounds act, and sometimes react, as solids in the biological milieu. However, attention has been also payed to uses of synthetic polymers molecularly dispersed in body fluids and, more generally, in the living medium. Two types of compounds have been considered: macromolecules that are pharmacologically active by themselves (polymeric drugs), and drug-polymeric carrier systems which bear drugs temporarily attached to the polymer backbone either covalently (macromolecular prodrugs) or because of physical interactions. It is of value to note that distinction between polymeric drugs and macromolecular prodrugs is based on expected uses. Indeed, it is likely that no macromolecule is inert in the living medium.