Biodegradable, phase separated, thermoplastic multi-block copolymer

Abstract

The invention is directed to a biodegradable, phase separated, thermoplastic multi-block copolymer, a process for preparing a biodegradable, phase separated, thermoplastic multi-block copolymer, the use of a biodegradable, semi-crystalline, phase separated, thermoplastic multi-block copolymer, and a composition for the delivery of at least one biologically active compound to a host. The multi-block copolymer of the invention comprises at least one amorphous hydrolysable pre-polymer (A) segment and at least one semi-crystalline hydrolysable pre-polymer (B) segment, wherein said multi-block copolymer under physiological conditions has a Tg of 37° C. or less and a Tm of 50-110° C.; the segments are linked by a multifunctional chain extender; the segments are randomly distributed over the polymer chain; and the pre-polymer (B) segment comprises a X-Y-X tri-block, wherein Y is a polymerisation initiator and X is a poly(p-dioxanone) segment with a block length expressed in p-dioxanone monomer units of 7 or more.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.