Polymers with Intrinsically Therapeutic Activity: from Membrane-targeted Cytotoxicity to Receptor-topology Remodeling

Ze-Kai Xiao; Ji-Hong Wang; Jun-Bin Chen; Xian-Zhu Yang

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3891-3

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Polymers with Intrinsically Therapeutic Activity: from Membrane-targeted Cytotoxicity to Receptor-topology Remodeling

REVIEW | Updated：2026-11-11

- Polymers with Intrinsically Therapeutic Activity: from Membrane-targeted Cytotoxicity to Receptor-topology Remodeling
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Pages: 1-23(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou 511442, China
  b.National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials of the Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Author bio：
  
  chenjunbin@scut.edu.cn (J.B.C.)
  yangxz@scut.edu.cn (X.Z.Y.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3891-3
  CLC：
- Received：29 July 2026，
  
  Accepted：13 September 2026，
  
  Online First：11 November 2026，
  
  Published：2026-10
- Accepted：
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Xiao, Z. K.; Wang, J. H.; Chen, J. B.; Yang, X. Z. Polymers with intrinsically therapeutic activity: from membrane-targeted cytotoxicity to receptor-topology remodeling. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3891-3

Ze-Kai Xiao, Ji-Hong Wang, Jun-Bin Chen, et al. Polymers with Intrinsically Therapeutic Activity: from Membrane-targeted Cytotoxicity to Receptor-topology Remodeling[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-23.
Xiao, Z. K.; Wang, J. H.; Chen, J. B.; Yang, X. Z. Polymers with intrinsically therapeutic activity: from membrane-targeted cytotoxicity to receptor-topology remodeling. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3891-3 DOI：

Ze-Kai Xiao, Ji-Hong Wang, Jun-Bin Chen, et al. Polymers with Intrinsically Therapeutic Activity: from Membrane-targeted Cytotoxicity to Receptor-topology Remodeling[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-23. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3891-3.

摘要

Abstract

Polymers with intrinsic therapeutic activity have redefined the role of macromolecules in medicine. Unlike conventional polymeric carriers

which primarily improve solubility

prolong circulation

or control drug release

these polymers directly engage in therapeutic processes through their chemical structures

physical organization

multivalent interactions

and stimulus-responsive behaviors. In this review

we discuss the four representative classes of therapeutic polymers. Membrane-active polymers eradicate pathogens

disrupt biofilms

and kill tumor cells by exploiting their charge

hydrophobicity

chain conformation

and disease-associated membrane vulnerability. Immunomodulatory polymers activate or redirect protective immunity by engaging innate immune sensors

glycan-recognition pathways

and engineered immune-cell interfaces. Anti-inflammatory polymers resolve pathological inflammation by scavenging reactive oxygen species

regulating macrophage polarization

inhibiting pyroptosis

and remodeling damaged tissue microenvironments. Receptor-topology-remodeling multivalent polymers reorganize cell surface receptors through nanoscale ligand spacing

receptor crosslinking

mechanical force

and programmable clustering to induce apoptosis or rewire signaling. Taken together

these examples establish that polymer architecture itself can determine therapeutic outcomes across a wide spectrum of conditions

including infection

cancer

inflammatory diseases

and immune-mediated disorders. By comparing these mechanisms

we highlight how macromolecular design parameters

including valency

degradability

assembly state

and disease-triggered activation

can translate into therapeutic potential. We further delineated the key design principles and translational challenges for this emerging class of polymer-based therapeutics.

关键词

Keywords

references

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