Vinyl Polymer-based technologies towards the efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs

The application of synthetic polymers as delivery systems of chemotherapy drugs has opened a very prospective field for research in cancer therapy. Due to their unique and attractive properties – biocompatibility, non-carcinogenicity, non-immunogenicity, non-toxicity, ease of functionalization, and stimuli-responsive character – displayed by some vinyl polymers, their use as delivery systems has attained attention for controlled and targeted drug release.

This review provides a comprehensive and critical overview of literature involving the use of vinyl polymer-based therapeutic formulations in the treatment of cancer. A description of the polymerization methods, followed by applications of vinyl polymers, as well as the formulations approved by Food Drug Administration (FDA) involving the use of vinyl polymers as drug delivery systems are initially overviewed. The second part discusses the potential of vinyl polymer-based therapeutic formulations (e.g., polymer-drug conjugates, hydrogels, micelles, nanoparticles, and supramolecular structures) for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics.

The third part presents and discusses breakthrough technologies based on the incorporation of vinyl polymer moieties envisaging an enhancement of uptake/release specificity, as well as their application as stimuli-sensitive materials to improve therapeutic efficacies while reducing side effects. Finally, the main conclusions and prospects on the use of vinyl polymers as drug delivery systems for cancer therapy are presented.

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Article information: Patrícia Pereira, Arménio C. Serra, Jorge F.J. Coelho, Vinyl Polymer-based technologies towards the efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs, Progress in Polymer Science, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2021.101432.