NOVEL BIOERODIBLE POLY(HYDROXYALKYLENE CARBONATES)S - A VERSATILE CLASS OF POLYMERS FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS

Starting with properly protected sugar alcohols, bioerodible polycarbo nates having pendant hydroxy substituents at the main polymer chain (p oly(hydroxyalkylene carbonate)s, (PHAC's)) have been synthesized for t he first time. The PHAC's are the first examples of water-soluble poly carbonates. Due to water solubility, these polyols may replace PEG's i n some applications. On derivatization of the hydroxy groups as a carb oxylic or carbonic acid ester or as an ortho ester, additional bioerod ible polycarbonates having quite different solubility and degradation properties were available.