Polyanhydrides. IV. Unsaturated and crosslinked polyanhydrides

Unsaturated polyanhydrides of the structure [(COCHCHCOO)_x(CORCOO)_y]_n, were synthesized. The polymers were prepared by either melt or solution polycondensation. Weight average molecular weights of up to 30,000 were obtained. The double bonds remain intact throughout the polymerization process and were available for a secondary reaction to form a crosslinked matrix. Poly(fumaric acid) is crystalline and insoluble in common organic solvents. Copolymers of fumaric acid with aliphatic diacids are less crystalline and soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbons. These copolymers displayed nearly constant degradation rates and drug release rates under physiological conditions. The time for complete degradation of 14 × 1.5 mm discs of poly(fumaric anhydride) and poly(sebacic anhydride) occurred in 2 and 15 days, respectively, while their copolymers degraded within this range. Further crosslinking of the polyanhydrids is demonstrated.