Polymeric implants polyanhydrides

Septicin antibacterial implant for the treatment of chronic bone infections have been developed [21-24]. The multidisciplinary concept of polymeric implants has expanded to include research on the chemistry and characterization of polymers, experimental and theoretical polymer degradation and drug release, toxicology and metabolism, and research in specific fields of applications such as cancer, proteins and hormones delivery, infectious diseases, and brain disorders. This chapter concentrates on the chemistry and characterization of polyanhydrides with a brief description on recent applications of polyanhydrides. 

Because of the instability of the anhydride bond in the presence of water, special properties are required for stable polyanhydride devices. A critical element in the development of polyanhydride biomaterials is controlling hydrolysis within a polymeric device. To obtain implants where hydrolysis is confined to the surface of the polymer, hydrophobic monomers can be polymerized via anhydride linkages to produce a polymer that resists water penetration, yet degrades into low molecular weight oligomers at the poly-mer/water interface. By modulating the relative hydrophobicity of the matrix, which can be achieved by appropriate selection of monomers, the rate of degradation can then be adjusted. For example, copolymers of sebacic acid, a hydrophilic monomer, with carboxyphenoxypropane, a hydrophobic monomer, yield ... 

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