content_image/939126.jpg content_image/939127.jpg content_image/939129.jpg content_image/939128.jpg
43. A method for the treatment or prevention of a disease caused by or associated with a viral, bacterial or fungal infection in a host, which comprises administering to the host a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an anionic cellulose-based polymer, a prodrug thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said anionic cellulose based polymer or prodrug, wherein said anionic cellulose based polymer is molecularly dispersed and mostly disso› ciated in an aqueous solution at pH ranging from about 3 to about 5. 

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the anionic cellulose based polymer comprises a repeating unit of the following: 

<img src='content_image/939126.jpg'>

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; 

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are the same or different, and are hydrogen, C$_{1 }$-C$_{6 }$ hydroxyalkyl, an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group, an aryl group, arylaliphatic, or an heteroring group or 

<img src='content_image/939127.jpg'>

wherein each of said aliphatic group, alicyclic group, aryl group, and heteroring group is independently unsub› stituted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfonic acid, carboxylate, sulfate, sul› fonate, and acidic anhydride; R 7 is hydrogen, C$_{1}$-C$_{6 }$ hydroxyalkyl, an aliphatic group, alicyclic group, an aryl group, arylaliphatic group or an heteroring group, wherein which aliphatic groups, alicyclic groups, aryl group and heteroring are independently unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from carboxylic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfonic acid, carboxy› late, sulfate, sulfonate and acidic anhydride, and, at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 contains at least one COOH group, wherein the pKa of one of the COOH groups present or if its salt is presents the pKa of the corresponding acid is less than about 5.0. 

Formula! 

Formula! 

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein said aliphatic group, alicyclic group, an aryl group and heteroring group in Formula I is further substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups. 

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein said acidic anhydride in Formula I derives from the same or different acids chosen from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfobenzoic acid, phthalic, trimellitic acid, and other car› boxylic acids. 

47. The method according to claim 44, wherein at least one ofR1, R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 in Formula I is chosen from the group consisting of trimellitic acid, trimesic acid, hemim› ellitic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, diethylmalonic acid, trans-aconitic acid, 1 ,8-naphthalic anhydride, 1,4,5,8-naph› thalene tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, 2-sulfobenzoic acid cyclic anhydride, 4-sulfo-1,8-naphthalic anhydride, tar› taric acid, D-mallic acid, L-mallic acid, and vinyl acetic acid. 

48. The method according to claim 44 wherein the repeat› ing unit is repeated n times, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 3. 

49. A method for the treatment or prevention of a disease caused by or associated with viral, bacterial, or fungal infection in a host, which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of an anionic acrylic-based poly› mer, a prodrug thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said anionic acrylic based polymer or prodrug. 

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein said anionic acrylic-based polymer is molecularly dispersed and mostly dissociated in an aqueous solution at pH ranging from about 3 to about 5. 

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein said anionic acrylic-based polymer comprises a repeating unit of the following Formula 

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; 

wherein Rs is hydrogen, an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group, an aryl group, aryl aliphatic or an heteroring group; wherein each of said aliphatic group, alicyclic group, aryl group, or heteroring group is independently unsubstituted or substituted by an aliphatic group, alicyclic group, an aryl or aryl aliphatic or Rs is 

<img src='content_image/939129.jpg'>

<img src='content_image/939128.jpg'>

Formula II 

