Beyond oncology — Application of HPMA copolymers in non-cancerous diseases

Macromolecular drug conjugates have been developed to improve the efficacy and safety profile of various therapeutic agents for many years. Among them, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer–drug conjugates are the most extensively studied delivery platforms for the effective treatment of cancer. In recent years, the applications of HPMA copolymers for the treatment of a broader range of non-cancerous diseases have also been explored. This review highlights the recent developments in the rational design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel HPMA copolymer–drug conjugates for non-cancerous diseases, such as musculoskeletal diseases, infectious diseases and spinal cord injury. The translation potential of these applications is also briefly discussed.