Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is directed to conjugates that comprise a linear polymer carrier, a linker and one or more drugs or imaging agents, as well as pharmaceutical compositions that include such conjugates. The drug may be a platinum-containing drug with a linker comprised of a modified amino acid. The conjugate may alternatively include a metal complexing ligand with a metal used for imaging or chemotherapeutic purposes. Another aspect of the invention is directed to formulations and processes for lyophilization of hyaluronan conjugates. Another aspect of the invention is directed to methods for treating and/or inhibiting cancer utilizing the conjugates and compositions described herein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to drug conjugates of mTOR inhibitors comprising an mTOR inhibitor, such as rapamycin, conjugated to hyaluronic acid by a linker comprising an ester, carbonate, or carbamate. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the drug conjugates, and methods of making and using the drug conjugates and the pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A multi-arm, star-shaped polymer composition can be configured for drug delivery and imaging applications in vivo. The star polymer architecture can be synthesized using living radical polymerization techniques, including reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer and macromolecular design via the interchange of xanthates with a broad range of reaction conditions and functional groups. The star-shaped polymeric carriers can be tailored for preferential delivery of chemotherapeutics into the tumor-draining lymphatics via subcutaneous, peritumoral or intratumoral injections. The carriers can be loaded with the chemotherapeutic agents from about 10% to about 25% w/w. In addition, the carriers can be loaded with imaging agents from about 5% to about 10% w/w. The molecular weights of the polymeric carriers can be about 40 kDa to about 130 kDa. The chemotherapeutics can be cisplatin, geldanamycin or nitric oxide-donating prodrugs. The imaging agent can be a near-infrared dye, such as IR820.