Cell encapsulation unit) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (acetylated unit). It is derived from the N-deacetylation of chitin and has been used for several applications such as drug delivery, space-filling implants and in wound dressings. However, one drawback of this polymer is its weak mechanical properties and is thus often combined with other polymers such collagen to form a polymer with stronger mechanical properties for cell encapsulation applications. Agarose is a polysaccharide derived from seaweed used for nanoencapsulation of cells and the cell/agarose suspension can be modified to form microbeads by reducing the temperature during preparation. However, one drawback with the microbeads so obtained is
Polymer-drug conjugates tested in drug conjugates. Due to successful clinical proof-of-concept, second-generation conjugates are now being developed. Experimental chemotherapy and novel polymer-based combinations are currently under investigation. Instead of passive targeting developed so far, new approaches will provide receptor-mediated delivery. This will enable selective delivery of anticancer conjugates. A natural polymer dextrin and pendant chain polyacetals, have shown ability of pH-dependent degradation after incorporation into cell compartments. Also diethylstilboestrol (DES) conjugates can undergo pH-dependent degradation. Polymer-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (PDEPT) is an example of two-step anticancer treatment. Polymer-drug conjugates Polymer-drug conjugates are nano-medicine products under development for cancer diagnosis and treatment. There