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Published on: October 26, 2016
Pasty injectable biodegradable polymers derived from natural acids.
Michal Y Krasko1,2,3, Abraham J Domb1,2,3
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
New biodegradable polymers can be mixed with drugs at room temperature for easy injection. These pasty poly (ester-anhydride)s offer a simple way to deliver heat-sensitive medications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Pasty biodegradable polymers offer advantages for drug formulation and delivery, especially for heat-sensitive drugs.
- Simple preparation and room-temperature mixing are key benefits for injectable drug carriers.
- Existing materials may have limitations in terms of stability or ease of administration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel pasty biodegradable poly (ester-anhydride)s.
- To evaluate the potential of these polymers as injectable drug delivery carriers.
- To investigate the effect of polymer composition on thermal and mechanical properties.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of poly (ester-anhydride)s via transesterification-repolymerization using alkanedicarboxylic acids and ricinoleic acid or its oligomers.
- Characterization using spectroscopic, chromatography, and thermal analysis techniques.
- Drug release studies and degradation analysis.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized biodegradable pasty poly (ester-anhydride)s with varying ratios of ricinoleic acid and dicarboxylic acids.
- Melting point and softness were influenced by the length of the methylene chain in dicarboxylic acids and the use of ricinoleic acid oligomers.
- Polymers demonstrated controlled drug release over several weeks and degraded into fatty acids.
Conclusions:
- Copolymerization of alkanedicarboxylic acids with ricinoleic acid yields pasty biodegradable polymers.
- These novel polymers are suitable for use as injectable carriers for drug delivery.
- The developed materials offer a promising platform for simple and effective administration of therapeutics.
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