Crosslinkable macromers bearing initiator groups

A method of preparing a crosslinkable macromer system comprising the step of preparing one or more polymers providing pendent polymerization and pendent initiator group wherein the system is adapted to be polymerized in order to form a matrix suitable for in vivo application, and wherein either:

• (a) the polymerizable groups and initator group(s) are pendent on different polymers and the initiator groups are independently selected from the group consisting of long wave ultraviolet activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of benzophenone, thioxanthones, and benzoin ethers;
• visible light activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of ethyl eosin, eosin Y, rose bengal, camphorquinone and erythrosin;
• and thermally activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of 4,4' azobis(4-cyanopentanoic) acid, and 2,2-azobis(2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane) dihydrochloride, and benzoyl peroxide;
• and the pendent polymerizable groups are selected from the group consisting of vinyl groups, acrylate groups, methacrylate groups, ethacrylate groups, 2-phenyl acrylate groups, acrylamide groups, methacrylamide groups, itaconate groups, and styrene groups, or
• (b) the polymerizable groups and the initiator group(s) are pendent on the same polymer and the initiator groups are independently selected from the group consisting of long wave ultraviolet activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of thioxanthones, and benzoin ethers;
• visible light activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of ethyl eosin, eosin Y, rose bengal, camphorquinone and erythrosin;
• and thermally activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of 4,4' azobis(4-cyanopentanoic) acid, and 2,2-azobis(2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane) dihydrochloride, and benzoyl peroxide;
• and the pendent polymerizable groups are selected from the group consisting of vinyl groups, acrylate groups, methacrylate groups, ethacrylate groups, 2-phenyl acrylate groups, acrylamide groups, methacrylamide groups, itaconate groups, and styrene groups;
• or
• (c) the polymerizable groups and the initiator group(s) are pendent on the same polymer and the initiator groups are independently selected from the group consisting of long wave ultraviolet activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of benzophenone, thioxanthones, and benzoin ethers;
• visible light activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of ethyl eosin, eosin Y, rose bengal, camphorquinone and erythrosin;
• and thermally activatable molecules selected from the group consisting of 4,4' azobis(4-cyanopentanoic) acid, and 2,2-azobis(2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane) dihydrochloride, and benzoyl peroxide;
• and the pendent polymerizable groups are selected from the group consisting of acrylate groups, methacrylate groups, ethacrylate groups, 2-phenyl acrylate groups, acrylamide groups, methacrylamide groups, itaconate groups, and styrene groups.