Macromolecular (pro)drugs in antiviral research

Abstract

Macromolecular ( pro)drugs are a sub-discipline of medicinal and polymer chemistries aiming to optimize the delivery of drugs to their site of action. In recent decades, this field of science has undergone a tremendous development, with the soundest achievements registered in the delivery of anticancer drugs.Surprisingly, the development of these tools for applications in antiviral treatment lags significantly behind despite the fact that the first in vivo successes of polymers in fighting viruses were reported half a century ago. Furthermore, the unique scope and utility of polymers in antiviral research is that macromolecules themselves exhibit highly potent activity against diverse viruses. Herein, in an attempt to revive the research interest in this field, we aim to provide an overview of successes (and failures) of polymers as antiviral agents and macromolecular prodrugs. Specifically, we discuss inhibition of the entry of the virus into mammalian cells by polymers, give an overview of the synthetic schemes applied for the conjugation of drugs to carrier polymers, and also present guidance with regard to potential reporter systems which can be used for the characterization of novel drug delivery systems in virus-free cell cultures.

Nanotechnology-based antiviral therapeutics

“…This resulted in greater antiviral potency and reduced toxicity. Synthetic polymers like vinyl esters and methacrylates have been explored for conjugation with AZT and ribavirine showing beneficial results [123]. In 2018, Andersen et al designed albumin-polymer-drug conjugates to ensure longer residential time and lymphatic accumulation, delivering the right ratio of individual drugs of ART to primary human T cells exhibiting strong protection from HIV infection in comparison with individual ART drugs.…”

Polymers in the Medical Antiviral Front-Line

“…"Macromolecular (pro)drugs", polymerized commercial antiviral drugs or polymers grafted with commercial drugs as pendant groups, are straightforward examples for polymers with inherent antiviral activity. Several studies have been conducted using this approach, such as Zelikin and his group about Ribavirin [66,67]. Larson also studied the uses of (pro)drugs to overcome immunity against some commercial antiviral drugs.…”

Physico-mechanical Properties of Silicon-chitosan-containing Glycerohydrogels Plates Based on Chitosan L- and D-ascorbates

“…Не менее остра потребность и в гидрогелевых пленочных материалах на основе биодеградируемых полимеров, в частности аминополисахарида хитозана. Химическая лабильность хитозана, а также близость его свойств к функциональным качествам живых тканей [2], биоцидность (антибактериальная [3], антивирусная [4], антимикотическая [5]), антитоксичность [6], способность к ранозаживлению и регенерации тканей [7,8], биорезорбция некоторыми ферментами человека, особенно лизоцимом [9], предопределяет возможность использования данного полимера для создания биосовместимых гидрогелевых субстратов. Однако использование химического сшивания бифункциональными реагентами (глиоксаль, глутаровый альдегид и т.п.)…”