Synthetic polymers as drugs.

Biologically active compounds have been incorporated into synthetic polymers. Bithionol, a well-known and potent antibacterial agent, has been used as bisphenol monomers for polyesters, polyphosphates, and phosphonates; the bischloroformate of bithionol has been converted into copolycarbonates and polyurethanes. The copolycarbonates of bithionol, optimally designed polymer structures with poly(ethylene oxide) glycols as the other comonomer, have been hydrolyzed under physiological conditions at a degradation rate of about 1% per day.