BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS DERIVED FROM NATURAL FATTY-ACIDS

A new class of polyanhydrides synthesized from nonlinear hydrophobic f atty acid esters, based on ricinoleic, maleic acid, and sebacic acid, possessed desired physico-chemical and mechanical properties for use a s drug carriers. The polymers were synthesized by melt condensation to yield film-forming polymers with molecular weights exceeding 100,000. Their rate of elimination from rats in the course of about 2 months w as faster than that found for similar polyanhydrides previously tested . In vitro studies showed that these polymers underwent rapid degradat ion in the first 10 days. The drug release followed first-order kineti cs, showing a rapid drug release rate in the first 10 days which corre lated with the degradation of the polymers. The fatty acid ester monom ers underwent in vitro enzymatic degradation to the natural starting a cids. Tests in rats demonstrated their toxicological inertness and bio degradability. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.