International Business Machines Corporation

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Universidad Del Pais Vasco/euskal Herriko Unibersitatea

Universidad Del París Vasco/euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

Julian M W Chan

James L Hedrick

Yi Yan Yang

Amanda Catherine Engler

Jeannette M Garcia

Daniel Joseph Coady

Mu San Zhang

Robert J Ono

Haritz Sardon

Gregory Breyta

Alshakim Nelson

Wei Han

Jeremy P K Tan

Jye Yng Teo

Rudy J Wojtecki

Victor W L Ng

Ashlynn L Z Lee

Xiyu Ke

Shaoqiong Liu

Zhan Yuin Ong

Nanoparticles comprise a drug, a first block polymer and a second block polymer. The first block polymer has a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block and a polycarbonate block bearing a side chain aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocycle (N-heterocycle). The N-heterocycle can be in the form of a base, a hydrosalt of the base, a sulfobetaine adduct of the base, or a combination thereof. The second block polymer has a PEO block and a polycarbonate block bearing a side chain catechol group, which can be present as a catechol, oxidized form of a catechol, and/or a polymerized form of a catechol. The nanoparticles can be dispersed in water and are capable of controlled release of the drug.

Polycarbonates bearing aromatic N-heterocycles for drug delivery

A number of cationic antimicrobial polymers have been synthesized by a condensation polymerization in bulk. The initial polymer formed has backbone tertiary nitrogens, which are subsequently quaternized using a suitable quaternizing agent (e.g., alkyl halide). The cationic polymers include polyamides, polycarbonates, polypolyureas and polyguanidiniums having a cationic repeat unit comprising the quaternary ammonium nitrogen as a backbone nitrogen. The cationic polymers can be active against Gram-negative, Gram-positive microbes, and/or fungi.

Condensation polymers for antimicrobial applications

Paramagnetic, amphiphilic, biocompatible polymers were prepared comprising a carbonate repeat unit bearing a paramagnetic organic radical, more specifically a nitroxyl radical. The radical polymers can be produced in one step from a precursor polymer bearing an active ester side chain by treating the precursor polymer with a radical-bearing nucleophile. The precursor polymer can be prepared by organocatalyzed catalyzed ring opening polymerization (ROP) of a cyclic carbonate monomer bearing an active ester side chain. The radical polymers can be non-toxic and partially biodegradable. The radical polymers have utility as contrast enhancing agents in a medical imaging application and/or as therapeutic agents for treating a medical condition. The radical polymers can also serve as carriers for therapeutic agents (e.g., drugs) and/or medical image enhancing agents (e.g., NIRF dyes).

Biodegradable organic radical-functionalized polycarbonates for medical applications

Cationic antimicrobial polymers have been synthesized by a bulk addition polymerization of a nucleophilic agent comprising two tertiary amines and an electrophilic agent that comprises two leaving groups and an aromatic ring between the leaving groups. The reaction solvent for the polymerization is chosen to allow precipitation of the cationic polymer at the polymerization temperature, thereby limiting molecular weight. Quaternization and polymerization occur concurrently. The cationic polymers can be highly active against Gram-negative and Gram-positive microbes, and/or fungi. The cationic polymers can also be non-hemolytic and non-cytotoxic at the effective concentration against the microbes.

Antimicrobial polymers formed by bulk polyaddition

One catalyst-free method of forming a polyurethane comprises forming a first emulsion comprising a first monomer, a surfactant, a water immiscible organic solvent, and water. The first monomer comprises two or more pentafluorophenyl carbonate groups. The first emulsion is combined with an aqueous mixture containing a second monomer comprising two or more nucleophilic amine groups, thereby forming a second emulsion. The first and second monomers of the second emulsion are allowed to react by interfacial polymerization, thereby forming a polyurethane. The polyurethane can have a number average molecular weight (Mn) of about 30000 to about 80000. The method is compatible with introducing pendant functionality into the polyurethane by way of cyclic carbonate precursors to the first monomer.

Catalyst-free methods of forming polyurethanes from pentafluorophenyl carbonates

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Julian M W Chan