Publications by authors named "Robert C Schmeltzer"

The synthesis of a salicylate-based poly(anhydride-ester) was optimized to improve the overall efficiency and quality of the polymer. First, a new approach for the preparation of the polymer precursor minimizes the overall number of synthetic steps and increases the overall yield. Second, the melt-polymerization apparatus was modified to include dynamic mixing, which yields polymer with increased molecular weights on both the milligram and gram scale.

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Salicylate-based poly(anhydride-esters) were synthesized via two different methods, melt-condensation and solution polymerization, and the resulting polymers were compared. Acetylsalicylic acid was used as a model compound to mimic the active polymer chain-ends during melt-condensation, and formed a low-molecular-weight (<1500) polymer when subjected to melt-condensation polymerization conditions. The polymers and model compounds were analyzed by NMR ((1)H and (13)C) and IR spectroscopies to elucidate the structures.

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The aim of this study was to investigate how glass transition temperature (Tg) influenced polymer microsphere formation and degradation of three chemically, similar novel salicylatebased poly(anhydride-esters): poly[1,6-bis(o-carboxyphenoxy)hexanoate] (CPH), Tg = 59 degrees C; poly[1,8-bis(o-carboxyphenoxy)octanoate] (CPO), Tg = 30 degrees C; and poly[1,10-bis(ocarboxyphenoxy) decanoate] (CPD), Tg = 27 degrees C. Microspheres of these polymers were prepared using a modified oil-in-water solvent evaporation method and processed by either resuspension or washed by centrifugation. The morphology of the microspheres determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that an extra washing step appears to increase aggregation as the Tg decreases; whereas only limited aggregation occurred in the polymer with the lowest Tg, CPD, in those not washed by centrifugation.

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Poly(anhydride-esters) were prepared from catechol, fenticlor and hexachlorophene. The molecular weights (M) of the polymers were typically > 10,000 Da with glass transition temperatures (T) ranging from 23 to 84 °C. The thermal characteristics of the polymers paralleled the melting temperatures of the chemically incorporated antiseptic molecules.

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A series of poly(anhydride-esters) based on poly(1,10-bis(-car-boxyphenoxy)decanoate) (CPD) and poly(1,6-bis(-carboxyphenoxy)hexane) (-CPH) were synthesized by melt-condensation polymerization. Poly-(anhydride-esters) that contain CPD hydrolytically degraded into salicylic acid, however, these homopolymers have mechanical and thermal characteristics that limit their use in clinical applications. The synthesis and characterization of copolymers of CPD with -CPH, a monomer known to generate mechanically stable homopolymers, was investigated.

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This paper describes the synthesis and cytotoxicity of poly(anhydride esters) that are composed of several salicylate derivatives, including halogenated salicylates, aminosalicylates, salicylsalicylic acid, and thiolsalicylic acid. The incorporation of these nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) into a biodegradable polymer backbone yields drug-based polymers that have potential for a variety of applications. The poly(anhydride esters) were synthesized by melt condensation polymerization.

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A series of salicylic acid-derived poly(anhydride-esters) were synthesized by melt polym erization methods, in which the structures of the molecule ("linker") linking together the two salicylic acids were varied. To determine the relationship between the linker and the physical properties of the corresponding poly(anhydride-ester), several linkers were evaluated including linear aliphatic, aromatic, and aliphatic branched structures. For the linear aliphatic linkers, higher molecular weights were obtained with longer linear alkyl chains.

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