Chitin crustacean waste and mushrooms for possible development of products in tissue engineering, medicine, and industry. Chitin Chitin (CHON) ( ), a long-chain polymer of "N"-acetylglucosamine, is a derivative of glucose. It is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods, such as crustaceans (e.g., crabs, lobsters and shrimps) and insects, the radulae of molluscs, cephalopod beaks, and the scales of fish and lissamphibians. The structure of chitin is comparable to another polysaccharide - cellulose, forming crystalline nanofibrils or whiskers. In terms of function, it may be compared to the protein keratin. Chitin has proved useful for
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