Novel functional degradable block copolymers for the building of reactive micelles

in Polymer Chemistry (2013), 4(4), 1025-1037

Amphiphilic biocompatible copolymers are promising materials for the elaboration of nanosystems for drug delivery applications. This paper aims at reporting on the synthesis of new functional amphiphilic ... [more ▼]

Amphiphilic biocompatible copolymers are promising materials for the elaboration of nanosystems for drug delivery applications. This paper aims at reporting on the synthesis of new functional amphiphilic copolymers based on biocompatible and bioeliminable blocks. Poly(ethylene oxide) was selected as the hydrophilic block, whereas an aliphatic polyester, i.e. poly(epsilon-caprolactone), or a polycarbonate, i.e. poly(trimethylene carbonate), were chosen as the degradable hydrophobic block. In order to allow a post-functionalization of the micelles core, azide groups were introduced on the hydrophobic segment to provide reactivity towards functional alkyne derivatives by the copper azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). For this purpose, a functional lactone, i.e. alpha-chloro-epsilon-caprolactone was introduced during the polymerization of the hydrophobic block before being converted into azide on the preformed copolymer. Such reactivity of the block copolymers and their self-assemblies is of prime interest for drugs or fluorescent dyes grafting, so as for micelles cross-linking. The influence of the azides distribution along the degradable block on the micelles post-functionalization ability has been studied by using alkyne bearing fluorescent dyes as model for drugs. The hydrophilicity of the dye on the micelles post-functionalization efficiency has also been investigated. [less ▲]

Tailor-made degradable copolymers for the design of advanced drug delivery systems

Conference (2012, December 03)

Implant comprising a core and a tube encasing the core

Patent (2012)

The present invention relates to an implant comprising: - a core material comprising polydimethylsiloxane or at least one hydrogel polymer; - a tube encasing said core material comprising an ethylene ... [more ▼]

The present invention relates to an implant comprising: - a core material comprising polydimethylsiloxane or at least one hydrogel polymer; - a tube encasing said core material comprising an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer or at least one hydrogel polymer; - a sealant for closure of the open ends of said tube comprising polydimethylsiloxane or a mono-, di-, or triacetoxy derivative thereof, or at least one hydrogel polymer; and - at least one active ingredient; wherein said at least one active ingredient is selected from the group comprising celecoxib, sulindac, tamoxifen, oestrogen, oestradiol, ethinyl oestradiol, mestranol, dienogest, norgestrel, levonorgestrel, desogestrel, norgestimate, ethynodiol diacetate, leuprorelin, buserelin, gonrelin, triptorelin, nafarelin, deslorelin, histrelin, and supprelin; and with the proviso that when the sealant is said at least one hydrogelpolymer, the core material comprises polydimethylsiloxane. Furthermore, the invention relates to an implant for use as a medicament. In particular, the invention relates to an implant for use in the treatment of endometriosis. [less ▲]

Synthesis of novel poly(N-vinyl amide)s containing copolymers by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization

Poster (2012, May 10)

Poly(N-vinyl amide)s are found in many applications due to their valued properties including water solubility, biocompatibility, metal-coordination ability, etc. Although N-vinyl amides are easily ... [more ▼]

Poly(N-vinyl amide)s are found in many applications due to their valued properties including water solubility, biocompatibility, metal-coordination ability, etc. Although N-vinyl amides are easily polymerized via radical pathways, their growing radicals are quite reactive due to the lack of stabilizing group, rendering the synthesis of well-defined poly(N-vinyl amide)s challenging. Thus, we explored the organometallic-mediated radical polymerization (OMRP) of a series of N-vinyl amides using bis(acetylacetonato)cobalt(II) as controlling agent in order to develop a platform for the precision synthesis of poly(N-vinyl amide)s. [less ▲]

Tocol modified glycol chitosan for the oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs

in International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2012), 423(2), 452-460

The aim of this study was to develop tocol derivatives of chitosan able (i) to self-assemble in the gastrointestinal tract and (ii) to enhance the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. Among the derivatives ... [more ▼]

The aim of this study was to develop tocol derivatives of chitosan able (i) to self-assemble in the gastrointestinal tract and (ii) to enhance the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. Among the derivatives synthesized, tocopherol succinate glycol chitosan (GC-TOS) conjugates spontaneously formed micelles in aqueous solution with a critical micelle concentration of 2 μg mL−1. AFM and TEM analysis showed that spherical micelles were formed. The GC-TOS increased water solubility of 2 model class II drugs. GC-TOS loading efficiency was 2.4% (w/w) for ketoconazole and 0.14% (w/w) for itraconazole, respectively. GC-TOS was non-cytotoxic at concentrations up to 10 mg mL−1. A 3.4-fold increase of the apparent permeation coefficient of ketoconazole across a Caco-2 cell monolayer was demonstrated. Tocol polymer conjugates may be promising vehicles for the oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs. [less ▲]

"Click chemistry" to derived antimicrobial polymers

in Lagaron, José Maria; Ocio Zapata, Maria José; Lopez-Rubio, Amparo (Eds.) Antimicrobial polymers (2012)

Novel amphiphilic mikto-arm star-shaped copolymers for the preparation of PLA-based nanocarriers

in Macromolecular Symposia (2011), 309/310(1), 111-122

Three-arm (A2B) and four-arm (A2B2) star-shaped copolymers based on biocompatible and biodegradable hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) (A arms) and biocompatible and bioeliminable hydrophilic poly ... [more ▼]

Three-arm (A2B) and four-arm (A2B2) star-shaped copolymers based on biocompatible and biodegradable hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) (A arms) and biocompatible and bioeliminable hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (B arms) were synthesized by the coupling of an ω-azide terminated PEO chains with PCL chain bearing one (A2B) or two (A2B2) alkyne functions at the middle of the chain by the copper mediated azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The amphiphilic behavior of these different stars was confirmed by micellization experiments in water followed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The efficiency to stabilize PLA nanoparticles was investigated in function of the stars structure. [less ▲]

Thermoreversibly crosslinked poly(ε-caprolactone) as recyclable shape-memory polymer network

in Macromolecular Rapid Communications (2011), 32(16), 1264-1269

A new concept to build shape memory polymers (SMP) combining outstanding fixity and recovery ratios (both above 99% after only one training cycle) typical of chemically crosslinked SMPs with ... [more ▼]

A new concept to build shape memory polymers (SMP) combining outstanding fixity and recovery ratios (both above 99% after only one training cycle) typical of chemically crosslinked SMPs with reprocessability restricted to physically crosslinked SMPs is demonstrated by covalently bonding, through thermoreversible Diels–Alder (DA) adducts, star-shaped poly(epsilon-caprolactones) (PCL) end-functionalized by furan and maleimide moieties. A PCL network is easily prepared by melt-blending complementary end-functional star polymers in retro DA regime, then by curing at lower temperature to favour the DA cycloaddition. Such covalent network can be reprocessed when heated again at the retro DA temperature. The resulting SMP shows still excellent shape memory properties attesting for its good recyclability. [less ▲]

Thermo-reversible reactions for the preparation of smart materials: recyclable covalently-crosslinked shape memory polymers

Poster (2011, June 16)

Synthesis and characterization of recyclable chemically-crosslinked shape memory materials

Poster (2011, May 12)