Synthesis and characterization of polyester conjugates of ciprofloxacin.

Two-, three-, four and six-arm, star-shaped poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and polylactide homopolymers were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters in the presence of glycerol, penthaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and poly(ethylene glycol) as initiators and stannous octoate as a catalyst. Thus obtained oligomers were successfully used in the synthesis of novel polyester conjugates of ciprofloxacin. The structures of the polymers and conjugates were determined by means of GPC, MALDI-TOF MS, NMR and IR studies. The in vitro release of ciprofloxacin from obtained conjugates was investigated.