Patent ID: 8039448

Claim:
A method for treating a disease or disorder with an agent, wherein said disease or disorder is selected from the group consisting of a urinary tract disorder, a reproductive tract disorder, cancer, and a nervous system disorder, and wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, dye, label, and a penetration enhancer, comprising administering to a subject an N-acylated-N,O-carboxyalkylchitosan associated with said agent, and allowing said agent to be released in said subject, wherein said N-acylated-N,O -carboxyalkylchitosan is comprised of subunits of the formula wherein X is independently selected from hydrogen, —(CH 2 ) b COG, or —(CH 2 ) b COOZ for each occurrence, provided that at least 10% of X groups on said polymer are —(CH 2 ) b COOZ or —(CH 2 ) b COG; Y is independently selected from —C(═O)—R—CO 2 Z, —C(═O)—R—COG, hydrogen, carboxyalkyl, acetyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for each occurrence, provided that at least 1% of Y groups on said polymer are —C(═O)—R—CO 2 Z or —C(═O)—R—COG; R is aryl; b is 1-8; G is an agent or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and Z is hydrogen, a cation, said agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.