FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS WITH BIOLOGICALLY-ACTIVE GROUPS

Synthetic polymers with functional groups, especially where the functional group is a biologically active group, are receiving considerable attention, since such polymeric drugs represent novel drug delivery systems. In this paper methods for the preparation of typical classes of polymers with biologically active groups were explored. As an example of a condensation polymer, primaquine was incorporated in a polymer chain by an allophanate linkage. Primaquine was also substituted on a polyoxyethylene polymer chain as was the N,N-dimethylamino-benzoate group. Oligo(oxyethylene) glycols were endcapped with salicylate or N,N'-dimethylaminobenzoate groups. These functional groups are reversibly linked to polymers and can be removed, for example, by hydrolysis, providing slow and sustained release of the drug. As nondegradable polymers with functional groups, polymers and copolymers of 4-vinylsalicylic acid and 5-vinylsalicylic acid derivatives have been prepared. It was shown clearly that high polymers are active in antibacterial tests, against gram-positive and/or gram-negative bacteria. The activity of poly(4-vinylsalicylic acid) and poly(5-vinylsalicylic acid) was found to be independent of molecular weight. Selective activity has been obtained by preparing copolymers of 4-vinylsalicylic acid or 5-vinylsalicylic acid with methacrylic acid, a comonomer whose homopolymer was inactive. © 1979, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.