HPMA copolymer-antibody constructs in neoplastic treatment: an overview of therapeutics, targeted diagnostics, and drug-free systems

Abstract

In the past decades, nanosized drug delivery systems based on N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymers (pHPMA) have gained increasing attention in nanomedicine field due to their hydrophilicity, versatility, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and non-immunogenicity. Indeed, pHPMA nanosystems with various controlled drug release capabilities inside targeted tissues or cells have been intensively studied. This paper summarizes recent advances in the design and application of pHPMA conjugates with specific antibodies or their fragments, focusing predominantly on the systems for the cancer therapy, particularly, the mechanisms of action of therapeutic antibodies, the approaches of their modification and subsequent attachment of pHPMA and their conjugates with diverse active moieties. Finally, we highlight the major biomedical applications of these antibody-polymer-drug conjugates and consider directions of possible development over the coming decade.