ABSTRACT
Most anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs used clinically are limited by a relatively low therapeutic index, owing to toxic side effects. This chapter presents the applications of poly(l-glutamic acid) (PG) in the delivery of both chemotherapeutic and diagnostic agents. PG is an effective solubilizing carrier of camptothecin (CPT) and serves to protect the E-ring lactone structure in CPT. Studies have systematically investigated the structural effects of the anti-tumor efficacy of CPT, including linkers between PG and CPT, the point of attachment of PG on the CPT molecule, the polymer molecular weight, and drug loading. Many chemotherapeutic agents can increase the radiosensitivity of tumors, potentiating the tumor response to radiation-caused damage. Near-infrared optical imaging has unique advantages for diagnostic imaging of solid tumors. The linkage of polymer–drug conjugates is important to the in vivo release of a drug that should be stable during circulation but should also allow drug release at an appropriate rate at the tumor tissue.
