Hydrolytically unstable, biocompatible polymer
AssigneeThe University of Akron
InventorsDaniel J. Smith, Weisun Rao
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Abstract
A hydrolytically unstable, biocompatible polymer capable of carrying and releasing a pharmaceutical compound when introduced into physiological media. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer contains ester linkages that are susceptible to hydrolytic degradation. A monomeric unit of the polymer can also be used as a hydrolytically unstable linking agent for quickening the degradation of polymers, particularly cross-linked polymers.
Claims11
A hydrolytically unstable polymer having the formula (I):
- ##STR7## wherein A is a functional group selected from the group consisting of amino and hydroxyl groups;
- X.sub.1 is the monomer fragment --(R.sub.3)NR.sub.4 (R.sub.5)COO(R.sub.6)O--;
- B is a functional group selected from the group consisting of amino and hydroxyl groups;
- X.sub.2 is the monomer fragment --OC(R.sub.1)NR.sub.2 (R.sub.3)--;
- R.sub.1 and R.sub.5 are each independently selected from organic groups containing from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from hydrogen or organic groups containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a pendant polymer chain having a molecular weight less than about 5000;
- R.sub.3 is independently selected from organic groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- R.sub.6 is independently selected from organic groups containing from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- and n is a positive integer.
A method of delivering a pharmaceutical compound in vivo comprising providing a carrier having the formula (I):
- ##STR11## wherein A is a functional group selected from the group consisting of amino and hydroxyl groups;
- X.sub.1 is the monomer fragment --(R.sub.3)NR.sub.4 (R.sub.5)COO(R.sub.6)O--;
- B is a functional group selected from the group consisting of amino and hydroxyl groups;
- X.sub.2 is the monomer fragment --OC(R.sub.1)NR.sub.2 (R.sub.3)--;
- R.sub.1 and R.sub.5 are each independently selected from organic groups containing from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from hydrogen or organic groups containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a pendant polymer chain having a molecular weight less than about 5000;
- R.sub.3 is independently selected from organic groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- R.sub.6 is independently selected from organic groups containing from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- and n is a positive integer;
- loading a pharmaceutical compound onto the carrier;
- and
- placing the loaded carrier in vivo,
- wherein the pharmaceutical compound dissociates from the carrier in vivo.
A hydrolytically unstable cross-linking agent comprising a compound having the formula (I):
- ##STR12## wherein A is a functional group selected from the group consisting of amino and hydoxyl groups;
- X.sub.1 is the monomer fragment --(R.sub.3)NR.sub.4 (R.sub.5)COO(R.sub.6)O--;
- B is a functional group selected from the group consisting of amino and hydroxyl groups;
- X.sub.2 is the monomer fragment --OC(R.sub.1)NR.sub.2 (R.sub.3)--;
- R.sub.1 and R.sub.5 are each independently selected from organic groups containing from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from hydrogen or organic groups containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a pendant polymer chain having a molecular weight less than about 5000;
- R.sub.3 is independently selected from organic groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- R.sub.6 is independently selected from organic groups containing from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
- and n is an integer from 0 to about 10, wherein at least one of A, B, R.sub.2, and R.sub.4 has one or more polymerizable functional groups such that the compound has at least two polymerizable functional groups.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.