Pasty injectable biodegradable polymers derived from natural acids.

Pasty biodegradable polymers that can be mixed with drugs at room temperature and injected to tissue as neat composition are advantageous as they allow simple preparation and delivery of drugs, particularly for heat sensitive drugs. A series of biodegradable pasty poly (ester-anhydride)s were prepared from alkanedicarboxylic acids and ricinoleic acid and its oligomers by transesterification-repolymerization method. The polymers were characterized by common spectroscopic, chromatography, and thermal methods.

Gentamicin extended release from an injectable polymeric implant.

Gentamicin sulfate, a potent antibiotic agent, is currently used for treatment of osteomyelitis mainly by intravenous injection with a long-term indwelling catheter, local implant of antibiotic containing polymethylmethacrylate beads or calcium phosphate (bone cements). Searching for more effective treatments, this study was designed to evaluate biodegradable injectable gelling polymeric devices for the controlled release of gentamicin sulfate in the treatment of invasive bacterial infections. Gentamicin sulfate was incorporated in poly(sebacic-co-ricinoleic-ester-anhydride P(SA-RA)) paste at 10-20% w/w and its release in buffer solution was monitored.

Hydrolytic degradation of ricinoleic-sebacic-ester-anhydride copolymers.

The degradation process of poly(ricinoleic-co-sebacic-ester-anhydride)s in buffer solution was investigated by following the composition of the degradation products released into the degradation medium and the degraded polymer. The first week of degradation was characterized by the hydrolysis of the anhydride bonds and significant release of sebacic acid (SA). The remaining oligoesters of SA and ricinoleic acid (RA) degraded into shorter oligoesters composed of RA ester dimers, trimers, and tetramers as well as dimers of RA-SA.

Poly(sebacic acid-co-ricinoleic acid) biodegradable carrier for paclitaxel: in vitro release and in vivo toxicity.

Polyesteranhydrides synthesized by the transesterification of ricinoleic acid and sebacic acid followed by anhydride polymerization were examined as potential controlled delivery carrier for paclitaxel. Solid and liquid polymers were used. Polymers containing 30% ricinoleic acid are solid whereas polymers containing 70% ricinoleic acid are liquid at body temperature and semisolid at room temperature.