Degradable polymers controlled release agents

The lack of definitive studies is due to a mixture of reasons including 1) wide variety of polymers 2) newness of interest in the area 3) wide variety of applications (both potential and actual) of inorganic and organanetallic polymers not requiring thermal stability or thermal analysis (uses as anchored metal catalysis, control release agents, electrical and photochemical applications, speciality adhesives) 4) insufficient description, identification, of the products 5) wider variety of degradation routes and other thermal behavior in comparison to organic polymers and 6) many products were synthesized and briefly characterized before the advent of modern thermal instrumentation. 

DiBenedetto, L. J., and Huang, S. J., 1994, Poly(alkylene tartrate)s as Controlled Release Agents. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 45 249-257. 

Interest has centred on the possible use of water-soluble phosphazene polymers (Section 12.15) as carrier molecules for drugs, enzymes and other bioactive agents. Attachment of a chemotherapeutic ageut to a suitable polymer may achieve targeting of the drug ou a specific site within the body, and secure controlled release. Such a carrier molecule should (a) be water soluble at physiological pH 7.0, aud (b) be degradable into small non-toxic molecules which can subsequently be eliminated from the body [30,31]. 

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