Degradable Polymers and Nanoparticles Built from Salicylic Acid

Abstract

As more evidence emerges supporting the possibility that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid), might have a role in the prevention and management of certain types of cancer, there have been several attempts to fabricate salicylic acid-based polymers that can be employed in the targeted therapy of tumors. The primary disadvantage so far has been in use of nontherapeutic polymeric backbones that constitute the majority of the therapeutic particle's size. The focus of this research is the creation of a biodegradable polymer consisting only of salicylic acid, and its use as the main building block in targeted nanotherapeutics that would consequently provide both high local dose and sustained release of the active moiety. This work demonstrates the synthesis and degradation of polysalicylates, and modulation of their size and hydrolytic stability through the formation of nanostructures.

Ultrafine Nanoparticles of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate-co-Methacrylic Acid) Loaded with Aspirin

“…In order to use the CNP as a vehicle for the administration of drugs, the loading of ASA in CNP was first investigated. A review of the literature indicates that despite intensive research on the loading of ASA in micro-and nanostructures [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], there are no reports on the preparation of solid nanoparticles of FDA-approved polymers, with diameters close to 10-20 nm, loaded with this drug. Due to their small size, these nanosystems would have a high probability of circulating for long periods of time in the bloodstream, slowly releasing the drug, reducing the dosage frequency.…”

Supramolecular behaviour and fluorescence of rhodamine-functionalised ROMP polymers

“…8 We here report the synthesis and analysis of a new fluorophore-rich block copolymer prepared by ROMP. Previous work in our laboratories has focused on polymer-drug conjugates 23,24 and we wished to explore the incorporation of fluorophores 25 as these have a range of important medical applications, enabling visualisation of cellular uptake, and are complementary to our luminescence investigations of uptake of potential therapeutics in resistant cancer lines. 26 We were particularly interested in self-assembled systems which possess "stealth" properties and to this end we used polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a clinically established copolymerisation adduct; PEG interacts minimally with biological fluid components, is hydrophilic, biologically inert, and can be used to control self-assembly outcomes, which in turn affects blood circulation and elimination.…”

Supramolecular Behaviour and Fluorescence of Rhodamine-Functionalised ROMP Polymer

“…8 We here report the synthesis and analysis of a new fluorophore-rich block copolymer prepared by ROMP. Previous work in our laboratories has focused on polymer-drug conjugates 23,24 and we wished to explore the incorporation of fluorophores 25 as these have a range of important medical applications, enabling visualisation of cellular uptake, and are complementary to our luminescence investigations of uptake of potential therapeutics in resistant cancer lines. 26 We were particularly interested in self-assembled systems which possess "stealth" properties and to this end we used polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a clinically established copolymerisation adduct; PEG interacts minimally with biological fluid components, is hydrophilic, biologically inert, and can be used to control selfassembly outcomes, which in turn affects blood circulation and elimination.…”