Water soluble polycarbonates for medical applications
AssigneesInternational Business Machines Corporation, Agency for Science, Technology and Research
InventorsDaniel J. Coady, Amanda C. Engler, James L. Hedrick, Xiyu Ke, Yi Yan Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Water soluble biodegradable polymers were prepared by an organoacid catalyzed ring opening polymerization (ROP) of a cyclic carbonate monomer bearing an active ester side chain. The initial polymer comprising an active ester side chain was treated with an amino-alcohol, which transformed the active ester groups to N-substituted amide groups bearing mono-hydroxy alkyl groups and/or dihydroxy alkyl groups, thereby forming the water soluble polymers. The water-soluble polymers are non-toxic and exhibit stealth properties in buffered serum solution.
Claims24
A polymer comprising a carbonate repeat unit of formula (1):
- wherein
- R′ is a monovalent radical comprising 2 to 4 carbons and 1 to 2 hydroxy groups,
- R″ is a monovalent radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, and propyl,
- the polymer is non-charged, and
- the polymer is soluble in water.
A method, comprising:
- forming a first mixture comprising water and a non-charged polymer comprising a carbonate first repeat unit of formula (1):
- wherein i) R′ is monovalent radical comprising 2 to 4 carbons and 1 to 2 hydroxy groups, ii) R″ is a selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, and propyl, and iii) the polymer is soluble in the water;
- forming a second mixture comprising i) a solvent selected from the group consisting of organic solvents, water, and combinations thereof and ii) a therapeutic agent for a medical treatment, the therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of a genes, proteins, peptides, drugs, and combinations thereof;
- combining the first mixture and the second mixture, thereby forming a third mixture;
- and
- removing organic solvent from the third mixture, thereby forming a particle comprising the polymer and the therapeutic agent bound by non-covalent interactions, wherein the particle is dispersible in water, and an aqueous mixture of the particle is suitable for intravenous injection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.