New hydrophilic polyesters and related polymers as bioerodible polymeric matrices

A survey is reported on our activity performed in the last few years on the preparation of new synthetic and semisynthetic polymeric materials endowed with bioerodible-biodegradable characteristics and designed for applications in the practice of controlled release of active principles of pharmaceutical and agrochemical significance. The presentation of the results will be arranged into the following sections: (1) hydroxyl containing polyesters, that comprise polymerization products based on racemic and optically active glyceric acid, or attained by polyaddition reactions among cyclic anhydrides, including also carbon dioxide, with monoglycidyl ethers of reversibly protected polyols. In this class are also presented the related polyhydroxylated systems obtained by selective grafting functional epoxides on cyclodextrins. (2) Bioerodible carboxyl containing polymeric systems as derived from the alternating copolymerization of maleic anhydride with alkyl vinyl ethers followed by partial esterification of maleic anhydride groups. (3) Linear and cross-linked functional polymers of synthetic and semisynthetic origin with hydrogel forming capability. Typical examples of their applications in the release of drugs and phytodrugs are also presented.