Bioactive polymeric materials for targeted administration of active agents: synthesis and evaluation

Abstract

Bioerodible polymers displaying both stealth and targeting properties for the preparation of nanosystems for targeted and controlled delivery of fibrinolytic drugs to the thrombus were prepared by straightforward synthetic routes and characterized. Poly[(maleic anhydride)-alt-(butylvinyl ether)]s were synthesized in the presence of dodecyl mercaptan as chain transfer agent allowing for the preparation of copolymers with tunable molecular weight. 2-Methoxyethanol hemiesters containing antiopsonizing molecules of poly(ethylene glycol) were prepared and further biofunctionalized with a Fab fragment by a two-step reaction. In vitro biocompatibility investigation of the prepared materials supported their suitability for biomedical applications.