Methods for efficient preparation of drug-polymer (or oligomer) conjugates useful in the preparation of particles, including microparticles and nanoparticles, for delivery of the drug in vivo for therapeutic applications are provided. The invention also provides nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation using drug-polymer/oligomer conjugates of the invention. The drug conjugates are formed during polymerization of the polymer or oligomer in which the drug is employed as an initiator of the polymerization of the monomers which form the polymer and/or oligomer. More specifically, the drug conjugates are formed by ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers in the presence of an appropriate ring-opening polymerization catalyst and the initiator (the drug). The method is particularly useful for formation of polymer/oligomer conjugates with drugs and other chemical species containing one or more hydroxyl groups or thiol groups.

Polymeric conjugates comprising a polymeric matrix having associated therewith an agent that down-regulates an activity or expression of a polypeptide associated with onset or progression of melanoma, and optionally and preferably, an additional agent that acts in synergy with said agent, are provided. Synthetic methodologies for preparing these conjugates and uses thereof in treating melanoma and other cancerous diseases are also provided.

Polymeric conjugates comprising a polymeric matrix having associated therewith an agent that down-regulates an activity or expression of a polypeptide associated with onset or progression of melanoma, and optionally and preferably, an additional agent that acts in synergy with said agent, are provided. Synthetic methodologies for preparing these conjugates and uses thereof in treating melanoma and other cancerous diseases are also provided.

A medical material uses a nickel-titanium alloy wherein a polyelectrolyte has a reduced thickness while a sufficient amount of an antithrombogenic compound for production of a therapeutic effect is supported. The medical material in which a porous surface is formed on a nickel-titanium alloy to allow infiltration of a polyelectrolyte into the pores, to thereby reduce the thickness of the polyelectrolyte exposed on the surface of the nickel-titanium alloy while allowing supporting of a sufficient amount of an antithrombogenic compound due to contribution of the polyelectrolyte infiltrate.

This invention discloses the creation of a novel single ligand-targeted multi-stereoisomer peptide-polymer conjugate compounds comprising a group of different synthetic and chemically modified stereoisomer peptides that have been conjugated to a biocompatible polymer carrying a peptide ligand for targeted delivery and/or encapsulated in ligand targeted polymer nanoparticles. The unique physicochemical properties of the stereoisomer peptides provide therapeutic compounds with ideal biopharmaceutical properties. The stereoisomer peptides carried by the polymer are delivered to cells or tissues to inhibit, suppress, block, antagonize or disrupt, simultaneously and independently, the functional domain of different disease causing proteins. Therefore the compounds are novel therapeutics for the treatment of abnormal angiogenesis and inflammation which are the hall mark of most human diseases including but not limited to all cancers, metastasis, eye retinopathies, cardiovascular, brain, and neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and diseases caused by infectious microorganisms including virus, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

Graft copolymer polyelectrolyte complexes are disclosed for the efficient delivery of anionic, cationic or polyelectrolyte therapeutic agents into biological cells, and for maintaining the biological activity of these molecules while in serum and other aqueous environments are provided. Such complexes comprise (1) an anionic graft copolymer containing an anionic polymer backbone, with pendent carboxylic acid groups and pendant chains containing amphipathic or hydrophilic polymers covalently bonded to a portion of the pendant carboxylic acid groups, (2) one or more anionic, cationic or polyelectrolyte therapeutic agents, and (3) optionally a liposome optionally containing an additional therapeutic agent. Also disclosed are functional nanoparticles containing the complexes.

In one aspect, the invention relates to polymers, crosslinked polymers, functionalized polymers, nanoparticles, and functionalized nanoparticles and methods of making and using same. In one aspect, the invention relates to degradable polymers and degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the invention relates to methods of preparing degradable nanoparticles and, more specifically, methods of controlling particle size during the preparation of degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the degradable nanoparticles are useful for complexing, delivering, and releasing payloads, including pharmaceutically active payloads. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

In one aspect, the invention relates to polymers, crosslinked polymers, functionalized polymers, nanoparticles, and functionalized nanoparticles and methods of making and using same. In one aspect, the invention relates to degradable polymers and degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the invention relates to methods of preparing degradable nanoparticles and, more specifically, methods of controlling particle size during the preparation of degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the degradable nanoparticles are useful for complexing, delivering, and releasing payloads, including pharmaceutically active payloads. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

A biodegradable electroactive material can be doped with a drug and the drug can be delivered to a living subject by stimulating the material with an electrical potential. The material (in this case a polymer) has an electrochemically responsive oligoaniline block terminated with a carboxylic acid moiety and is linked to an alcohol-terminated diol by an ester bond. Advantageously, the diol is PEG-400, PEG-2000, PCL-530, or PCL-2000.

Silicon-based tetrahydrocannabinol derivatives and methods for their synthesis are provided, in which the derivatives contain a tetrahydrocannabinol molecule and at least one silicon-based group containing Si—O—Si bonds. The derivatives are useful in topical and dermatological compositions, have potential beneficial topical properties, and enhance solubility and compatibility in topical and dermatological formulations containing the silicon-based materials.