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The present invention relates to novel compositions of therapeutic cyclodextrin containing polymeric compounds designed as a carrier for small molecule therapeutics delivery and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. These cyclodextrin-containing polymers improve drug stability and solubility, and red

The present invention relates to novel compositions of therapeutic cyclodextrin containing polymeric compounds designed as a carrier for small molecule therapeutics delivery and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. These cyclodextrin-containing polymers improve drug stability and solubility, and reduce toxicity of the small molecule therapeutic when used in vivo. Furthermore, by selecting from a variety of linker groups and targeting ligands the polymers present methods for controlled delivery of the therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to methods of treating subjects with the therapeutic compositions described herein. The invention further relates to methods for conducting pharmaceutical business comprising manufacturing, licensing, or distributing kits containing or relating to the polymeric compounds described herein.

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1. A polymer having the following formula: wherein each L is independently a linker comprising an amino acid or a derivative thereof;wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 2. The polymer of claim 1, wherein is alpha, beta or gamma cyclodextrin. 3. The polymer of claim 2

1. A polymer having the following formula: wherein each L is independently a linker comprising an amino acid or a derivative thereof;wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 2. The polymer of claim 1, wherein is alpha, beta or gamma cyclodextrin. 3. The polymer of claim 2, wherein is beta cyclodextrin. 4. The polymer of claim 1, wherein at least one L comprises cysteine or a derivative thereof. 5. The polymer of claim 4, wherein each L comprises cysteine. 6. The polymer of claim 5, wherein each L is cysteine and the cysteine is connected to the CD by way of a thiol linkage. 7. The polymer of claim 1, having the following formula: wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 8. The polymer of claim 7, wherein is alpha, beta or gamma cyclodextrin. 9. The polymer of claim 8, wherein is beta cyclodextrin. 10. A polymer having the following formula wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 11. The polymer of claim 10 wherein the group has a Mw of 3.4 kDa and the Mw of the compound as a whole is from 27 kDa to 99.6 kDa. 12. A method of making a polymer of the following formula: the method comprising:providing a compound of formula A and formula B: and contacting the compounds under conditions that allow for the formation of a covalent bond between the compounds of formula A and B, to form a polymer of the following formula: wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least four. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the group has a Mw of 3.4 kDa and the Mw of the polymer is from 27 kDa to 99.6 kDa. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the compounds of formula A and formula B are contacted in the presence of a base. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the base is an amine containing base. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the base is DEA. 17. A method of making a polymer of the following formula: wherein R is of the form: comprising the steps of: reacting a compound of the formula below: with a compound of the formula below: wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least four, in the presence of a non-nucleophilic organic base in a solvent. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the solvent is a polar aprotic solvent. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the solvent is DMSO. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of dialysis; and lyophilization. 21. A method of making the polymer of the formula below: wherein R is of the form: comprising the steps of: reacting a compound of the formula below: with a compound of the formula below: wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least four, or with a compound provided below: wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa;in the presence of a non-nucleophilic organic base in DMSO; and dialyzing and lyophilizing the following polymer 22. A water soluble linear polymer conjugate comprising: a linear polymer comprising cyclodextrin moieties and comonomers which do not contain cyclodextrin moieties (comonomers); andtherapeutic agents covalently linked to the comonomers of the linear polymer, wherein the therapeutic agents are cleaved from the water soluble linear polymer conjugate under biological conditions to release therapeutic agents; andwherein the water soluble linear polymer conjugate comprises at least four cyclodextrin moieties and at least four comonomers. 23. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the least four cyclodextrin moieties and at least four comonomers alternate in the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 24. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein therapeutic agents are attached via linkers. 25. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the comonomer comprises residues of at least two functional groups through which reaction and linkage of the cyclodextrin monomers was achieved. 26. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 25, wherein the functional groups, which may be the same or different, terminal or internal, of each comonomer comprise an amino acid, imidazole, hydroxyl, thio, acyl halide, —HC═CH—, —C≡C— group, or derivative thereof. 27. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 25, wherein the two functional groups are the same and are located at termini of the comonomer precursor. 28. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the cyclodextrin moiety comprises an alpha, beta, or gamma cyclodextrin moiety. 29. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 35% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 30. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 29, wherein the comonomer comprises a polyethylene glycol, the cyclodextrin moiety comprises beta-cyclodextrin, and the therapeutic agent is (S)-20-camptothecin. 31. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein a therapeutic agent is an antineoplastic agent. 32. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is an inhibitor of the S phase of the cell cycle. 33. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is a topoisomerase I inhibitor. 34. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is (S)-20-camptothecin. 35. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is a (S)-20-camptothecin analog. 36. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 35, wherein the (S)-20-camptothecin analog is topotecan. 37. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 35, wherein the (S)-20-camptothecin analog is irinotecan. 38. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is paclitaxel. 39. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is doxorubicin. 40. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is poorly soluble in water. 41. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the solubility of the therapeutic agent is 0.4, >0.6, >0.8, >1, >2, >3, >4, or >5. 43. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is hydrophobic and is attached via a second compound. 44. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein administration of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate to a patient results in release of the therapeutic agent over a period of at least 6 hours. 45. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein administration of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate to a patient results in release of the therapeutic agent over a period of 6 hours to a month. 46. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein, upon administration of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate to a patient the rate of therapeutic agent release is dependent primarily upon the rate of hydrolysis as opposed to enzymatic cleavage. 47. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, having a molecular weight of 10,000-500,000 amu. 48. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the cyclodextrin moieties make up at least about 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 50% or 80% of the polymer by weight. 49. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, made by a method comprising providing cyclodextrin moiety precursors modified to bear one reactive site at each of exactly two positions, and reacting the cyclodextrin moiety precursors with comonomer precursors having exactly two reactive moieties capable of forming a covalent bond with the reactive sites under polymerization conditions that promote reaction of the reactive sites with the reactive moieties to form covalent bonds between the comonomers and the cyclodextrin moieties, whereby a water soluble linear polymer comprising alternating units of a cyclodextrin moiety and a comonomer is produced. 50. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein a comonomer comprises a group selected from the following: an alkylene chain,polysuccinic anhydride,poly-L-glutamic acid,poly(ethyleneimine),an oligosaccharide, oran amino acid chain. 51. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein a comonomer comprises a polyethylene glycol chain. 52. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein a comonomer comprises a group selected from the following: polyglycolic acid or polylactic acid chain. 53. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein a comonomer comprises a hydrocarbylene group wherein one or more methylene groups is optionally replaced by a group Y (provided that none of the Y groups are adjacent to each other), wherein each Y, independently for each occurrence, is selected from, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or —O—, C(═X) (wherein X is NR1, O or S), —OC(O)—, —C(═O)O, —NR1—, —NR1CO—, —C(O)NR1—-, —S(O)n— (wherein n is 0, 1, or 2), —OC(O)—NR1, —NR1—C(O)—NR1—, —NR11-C(NR1)—NR1—, and —B(OR1)—; and R1, independently for each occurrence, represents H or a lower alkyl. 54. A polymer having attached thereto a plurality of D moieties of the following formula: wherein each L is independently a linker, and each D is independently a therapeutic agent, a prodrug derivative thereof, or absent; andwherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 55. The polymer of claim 54, wherein each L independently comprises an amino acid or a derivative thereof. 56. The polymer of claim 54, wherein each L independently comprises a plurality of amino acids or derivatives thereof. 57. The polymer of claim 54, wherein each L is independently a dipeptide or derivative thereof. 58. A polymer having attached thereto a plurality of L-D moieties of the following formula: wherein each L is independently a linker or absent and each D is independently a therapeutic agent, a prodrug derivative thereof, or —OH and wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 59. The polymer of claim 58, wherein each L independently comprises an amino acid or derivative thereof. 60. The polymer of claim 59, wherein each L is glycine or a derivative thereof. 61. The polymer of claim 58, having the following formula: 62. The polymer of claim 58, wherein each D is independently selected from an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-mycotic, or anti-viral therapeutic agent. 63. The polymer of claim 58, wherein each D is independently an anti-cancer agent or —OH. 64. The polymer of claim 58, wherein each D is independently —OH or selected from the group consisting of paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and amphotericin. 65. The polymer of claim 58, wherein each D is independently camptothecin or —OH. 66. The polymer of claim 58, wherein each D is independently a camptothecin analog or —OH. 67. A polymer having the following formula: wherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 68. A polymer having the following formula: wherein each R is independently OH or a therapeutic agent or prodrug derivative thereof, provided that the loading of R when R is a therapeutic agent is from about 6% to about 10% by weight of the total polymer; andwherein the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 69. The polymer of claim 68, wherein when R is a therapeutic agent, R is or a prodrug derivative thereof. 70. The polymer of claim 68, wherein R is or a prodrug derivative thereof. 71. A method of making a water soluble linear polymer conjugate comprising therapeutic agents comprising: providing a water soluble linear polymer comprising cyclodextrin moieties and comonomers which do not contain cyclodextrin moieties (comonomers), wherein the cyclodextrin moieties and comonomers alternate in the water soluble linear polymer and wherein the water soluble linear polymer comprises at least four cyclodextrin moieties and at least four comonomers; andcovalently attaching therapeutic agents to comonomers of the water soluble linear polymer, wherein the therapeutic agents are cleaved from the water soluble linear polymer conjugate under biological conditions to release therapeutic agents, thereby making a water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 72. The method of claim 71, wherein a therapeutic agent is attached via a linker. 73. The method of claim 71, wherein the water soluble linear polymer conjugate is made by a process comprising: providing cyclodextrin moiety precursors,providing comonomer precursors, andcopolymerizing said cyclodextrin moiety precursors and comonomer precursors to thereby make a water soluble linear polymer conjugate comprising cyclodextrin moieties and comomomers. 74. The method of claim 71, comprising providing cyclodextrin moiety precursors modified to bear one reactive site at each of exactly two positions, and reacting the cyclodextrin moiety precursors with comonomer precursors having exactly two reactive moieties capable of forming a covalent bond with the reactive sites under polymerization conditions that promote reaction of the reactive sites with the reactive moieties to form covalent bonds between the comonomers and the cyclodextrin moieties, whereby a water soluble linear polymer comprising alternating units of a cyclodextrin moiety and a comonomer is produced. 75. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent makes up at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or even 35% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 76. The method of claim 72, wherein the comonomer comprises a polyethylene glycol, the cyclodextrin moiety comprises beta-cyclodextrin, and the therapeutic agent is (S)-20-camptothecin. 77. The method of claim 73, wherein the comonomer precursor is a compound containing at least two functional groups through which reaction and thus linkage of the cyclodextrin moieties is achieved. 78. The method of claim 77, wherein the functional groups, which may be the same or different, terminal or internal, of each comonomer precursor comprise an amino acid, imidazole, hydroxyl, thio, acyl halide, —HC═CH—, —C≡C— group, or derivative thereof. 79. The method of claim 77, wherein the two functional groups are the same and are located at termini of the comonomer precursor. 80. The method of claim 71, wherein a comonomer contains one or more pendant groups with at least one functional group through which reaction and thus linkage of a therapeutic agent is achieved. 81. The method of claim 80, wherein the functional groups, which may be the same or different, terminal or internal, of each comonomer pendant group comprise an amino acid, imidazole, hydroxyl, thiol, acyl halide, ethylene, ethyne group, or derivative thereof. 82. The method of claim 80, wherein the pendant group is a substituted or unsubstituted branched, cyclic or straight chain C1-C10 alkyl, or arylalkyl optionally containing one or more heteroatoms within the chains or rings. 83. The method of claim 71, wherein the cyclodextrin moiety comprises an alpha, beta, or gamma cyclodextrin moiety. 84. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is an antineoplastic agent. 85. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is an inhibitor of the S phase of the cell cycle. 86. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is a topoisomerase I inhibitor. 87. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is (S)-20-camptothecin. 88. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is (S)-20-camptothecin analog. 89. The method of claim 88, wherein the (S)-20-camptothecin analog is topotecan. 90. The method of claim 88, wherein the (S)-20-camptothecin analog is irinotecan. 91. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is paclitaxel. 92. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is doxorubicin. 93. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is poorly soluble in water. 94. The method of claim 71, wherein the solubility of the therapeutic agent is 0.4, >0.6, >0.8, >1, >2, >3, >4, or >5. 96. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is hydrophobic and is attached via a second compound. 97. The method of claim 71, wherein administration of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate to a patient results in release of the therapeutic agent over a period of at least 6 hours. 98. The method of claim 71, wherein administration of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate to a patient results in release of the therapeutic agent over a period of 6 hours to a month. 99. The method of claim 71, wherein, upon administration of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate to a patient the rate of therapeutic agent release is dependent primarily upon the rate of hydrolysis as opposed to enzymatic cleavage. 100. The method of claim 71, wherein the water soluble linear polymer conjugate has a molecular weight of 10,000-500,000 amu. 101. The method of claim 71, wherein the cyclodextrin moieties make up at least about 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 50% or 80% of the polymer by weight. 102. The method of claim 71, wherein a comonomer comprises a group selected from the following: an alkylene chain,polysuccinic anhydride,poly-L-glutamic acid,poly(ethyleneimine),an oligosaccharide, oran amino acid chain. 103. The method of claim 71, wherein a comonomer comprises a polyethylene glycol chain. 104. The method of claim 71, wherein a comonomer comprises a group selected from the following: polyglycolic acid or polylactic acid chain. 105. The method of claim 71, wherein a comonomer comprises a hydrocarbylene group wherein one or more methylene groups is optionally replaced by a group Y (provided that none of the Y groups are adjacent to each other), wherein each Y, independently for each occurrence, is selected from, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or —O—, C(═X) (wherein X is NR1, O or S), —OC(O)—, —C(═O)O, —NR1—, —NR1CO—, —C(O)NR1—, —S(O)n— (wherein n is 0, 1, or 2), —OC(O)—NR1, —NR1—C(O)—NR1—, —NR1—C(NR1)—NR1—, and —B(OR1)—; and R1, independently for each occurrence, represents H or a lower alkyl. 106. A method of making a polymer having the following formula: the method comprising:providing a polymer of the formula below: and coupling the polymer with a plurality of D moieties to provide: wherein each L is independently a linker, and each D is independently a therapeutic agent, a prodrug derivative thereof, or absent and the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 107. A method of making a polymer having the following formula: the method comprising:providing a polymer below: and coupling the polymer with a plurality of L-D moieties to provide: wherein each L is independently a linker, and each D is independently a therapeutic agent, a prodrug derivative thereof, or —OH and the group  has a Mw of 3.4 kDa or less and n is at least 4. 108. The method of claim 107, wherein L of L-D is absent. 109. The method of claim 107, wherein L is an amino acid or derivative thereof. 110. The method of claim 107, wherein the coupling of the polymer with the plurality of L-D moieties results in the formation of a plurality of amide bonds. 111. The method of claim 107, wherein each D is independently selected from an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-mycotic, or anti-viral therapeutic agent. 112. The method of claim 107, wherein each D is independently an anti-cancer agent. 113. The method of claim 107, wherein each D is independently selected from the group consisting of paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and amphotericin. 114. The method of claim 107, wherein each D is independently camptothecin or —OH. 115. The method of claim 107, wherein each D is independently a camptothecin analog or —OH. 116. A pharmaceutical preparation comprising the water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22. 117. A pharmaceutical preparation comprising a pharmaceutical excipient and a water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester, salt, or hydrate thereof. 118. A pharmaceutical preparation comprising the polymer of claim 54, 58, 67, or 68. 119. A pharmaceutical preparation comprising a pharmaceutical excipient and a polymer of claim 54, 58, 67, or 68 or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester, salt, or hydrate thereof. 120. A reaction mixture comprising the polymer of any of claims 1 and 10 and a solvent. 121. The reaction mixture of claim 120, further comprising a therapeutic agent optionally coupled to a linker. 122. A compound of the following formula: wherein,m is a number such that the molecular weight of the PEG is 3400,n is a number such that the molecular weight of the compound is 10,000 to 500,000 amu; and makes up at least about 5% of the compound by weight. 123. The compound of claim 122, wherein the molecular weight of the compound is 30,000 to 200,000 amu. 124. The compound of claim 122, wherein the makes up at least about 10% of the compound by weight. 125. A compound of the following formula: wherein,m is a number such that the molecular weight of the PEG is 3400,n is a number such that the molecular weight of the compound is 10,000 to 500,000 amu. 126. The compound of claim 125, wherein the molecular weight of the compound is 30,000 to 200,000 amu. 127. A linear polymer comprising beta cyclodextrin moieties which may be formed via poly condensation of beta cyclodextrin containing monomers and comonomers which do not contain beta cyclodextin moieties, and therapeutic agents covalently attached to one or more of the comonomers, wherein the therapeutic agents are cleaved from the linear polymer under biological conditions to release therapeutic agents. 128. The linear polymer of claim 127, wherein therapeutic agents are grafted onto the polymer via an optional linker subsequent to polymerization. 129. The linear polymer of claim 127, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from camptothecin, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclosporine A. 130. The linear polymer of claim 127, wherein the therapeutic agent is an antineoplastic agent. 131. The linear polymer of claim 127, wherein the therapeutic agent is a camptothecin derivative. 132. The linear polymer of claim 127, wherein the therapeutic agent is topotecan. 133. The linear polymer of claim 127, wherein the therapeutic agent is irinotecan. 134. A subunit of a polymeric compound, the subunit having the following formula: wherein,m is a number such that the molecular weight of the PEG is 3400; and is a cyclodextrin. 135. The polymer of claim 59, wherein each L independently comprises a glycine or a derivative thereof. 136. The polymer of claim 59, wherein each L is triglycine or a derivative thereof. 137. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 116 or 117, wherein therapeutic agents are attached via linkers. 138. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 116 or 117, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 35% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 139. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 138, wherein the comonomer comprises a polyethylene glycol, the cyclodextrin moiety comprises beta-cyclodextrin, and the therapeutic agent is (S)-20-camptothecin. 140. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 29, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 5% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 141. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 29, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 10% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 142. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 29, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 15% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 143. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 29, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 20% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 144. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 29, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 25% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 145. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is an anti-inflammatory agent. 146. The water soluble linear polymer conjugate of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is a peptide. 147. The method of claim 75, wherein the therapeutic agent makes up at least 5% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 148. The method of claim 75, wherein the therapeutic agent makes up at least 10% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 149. The method of claim 75, wherein the therapeutic agent makes up at least 15% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 150. The method of claim 75, wherein the therapeutic agent makes up at least 20% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 151. The method of claim 75, wherein the therapeutic agent makes up at least 25% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 152. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is an anti-inflammatory agent. 153. The method of claim 71, wherein the therapeutic agent is a peptide. 154. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 138, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 5% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 155. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 138, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 10% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 156. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 138, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 15% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 157. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 138, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 20% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 158. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 138, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least 25% by weight of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate. 159. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 138, wherein administration of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate to a patient results in release of the therapeutic agent over a period of at least 6 hours. 160. The pharmaceutical preparation of claim 138, wherein administration of the water soluble linear polymer conjugate to a patient results in release of the therapeutic agent over a period of 6 hours to a month. 161. The linear polymer of claim 129, wherein the therapeutic agent is camptothecin. 162. The polymer of claim 54, wherein the therapeutic agent is an anti-inflammatory agent. 163. The polymer of claim 54, wherein the therapeutic agent is a peptide. 164. The polymer of claim 58, wherein the therapeutic agent is an anti-inflammatory agent. 165. The polymer of claim 58, wherein the therapeutic agent is a peptide.