The University of Akron

Colin Wright

Coleen Pugh

Carolyn Scherger

Zheng Zhang

Zewei Wang

Abhishek Banerjee

Xiang Yan

William Storms

Methods of functionalizing &#x3b1;-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers and coupling &#x3b1;-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers are provided. Suitable &#x3b1;-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers include &#x3b1;-halogenated polyesters and &#x3b1;-halogenated acrylate-based inimers. Methods include coupling &#x3b1;-halogenated polyesters and functionalizing &#x3b1;-halogenated polyesters without polymer cleavage. Certain &#x3b1;-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers may be functionalized, crosslinked or, intiate polymerization by inducing the &#x3b1;-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers to make a dioxolenium ion intermediate. The &#x3b1;-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers may also be functionalized using a radical trap.

Functional polymers

Biodegradable polyesters are made by synthesizing copolymers derived from biodegradable hydroxyacid monomers as well as from hydroxyacid monomers containing a functional group such as an azide group, a halogen group, a thioacetate group, and the like. Preferably, the functionalized biodegradable polyester copolymers are derived from a functionalized hydroxyacid such as a homolog of lactic acid and/or glycolic acid with the copolyester thus containing functional groups on the backbone thereof. These biodegradable polyesters can be utilized wherever biodegradable polyesters are currently used, and also serve as a polymer to which various medical and drug delivery systems can be attached.

Functional biodegradable polymers

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Kingwood, TX, United States of America

Colin Wright