Biodegradable synthetic polyesters in the technology of controlled dosage forms of antihypertensive drugs – the overview

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Arterial hypertension is a disease of civilization that requires long-term treatment. Recently, growing interest in natural and synthetic polymers as drug delivery vehicles in controlled release dosage forms for improving the efficacy of treatment has been observed.

Areas covered: This review introduces biodegradable synthetic polyesters as macromolecular carriers of antihypertensive drugs. Although various, synthetic and natural polymer-drug conjugates and/or polymeric carriers of anticancer drugs are currently under preclinical and clinical studies, there is no such data for antihypertensive drugs. Therefore, it seems appropriate to use such materials for the treatment of hypertension.

Expert opinion: There are currently only a few studies describing the use of synthetic polyesters in the arterial hypertension therapy. In order to the fact that there is a high demand for new, effective antihypertensive dosage forms, further studies for such drug carriers are certainly expected. Synthetic polyester carriers could improve the drug bioavailability and its pharmacokinetic properties by altering the pharmaceutical dosage form. This property is particularly useful for drugs with proven pharmacological action, but with limited application due to their inappropriate pharmacological properties. The development of new polymeric materials and technologies affords the opportunity to produce novel synthetic polyester DDSs.

KEYWORDS:

• Antihypertensive drugs
• drug delivery systems
• biodegradable polymers
• polymeric carriers
• controlled release
• hypertension

Article highlights

• Arterial hypertension is a disease of civilization and a major cause of untimely death. The main aim of the treatment of arterial hypertension is to achieve the maximum decrease in the long-term total risk of cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. An effective drug requires appropriate pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties to achieve the maximum decrease in the long-term total risk of cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality.

• The use of polyester drug delivery systems (DDSs) potentially offers the opportunity of the local administration (the drug can be released in the target tissue), prevent drugs deactivation, as well as improved their bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties.

• The described biodegradable and/or bioresorbable carriers: poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), polylactide (PLA), poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLACL) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLAGA), could be effectively applied in the technology of controlled antihypertensive drug release systems by obtaining so-called high-molecular-weight conjugates. Although they have been well characterized in terms of their physico-chemical and biological properties, most of them have not yet been used in clinical trials.

• There is a high demand for new, effective dosage forms of antihypertensive drugs and thus further studies on those drug carriers are truly desired. The carriers based on the synthetic polyesters have attracted much attention to develop drug delivery systems, however for anti-cancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic therapies. Despite a high market demand, there are only a few studies describing the use of polyesters in the arterial hypertension therapy.

• Polyester macromolecular conjugates and DDSs could provide an appropriate control and sustain on the drug release. Therefore, forward-looking studies should be focused on the synthesis and characterization of conjugates.

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work has been supported by the Medical University of Warsaw (FW23/N/19:MAT).