title: Photopolymers in orthopedics: characterization of novel crosslinked polyanhydrides.
abstract: Novel, high modulus, degradable polymers were prepared from methacrylated anhydride monomers of tricarballylic acid (MTCA) and pyromellitylimidoalanine (MPMA-ala). Kinetic studies indicate that the time scale of photopolymerization of MTCA (< 30 s) is suitable for in vivo applications. Additionally, the tensile modulus of copolymers of these novel monomers with methacrylic anhydride (MA) ranged from 0.8 to 2.1 GPa, which lies between the modulus of trabecular and cortical bone. Degradation studies indicate that the copolymers of MTCA and MPMA-ala with MA are initially surface degrading, which is important to maintaining polymer strength through the degradation process. Monomers such as these that can be rapidly polymerized using ultraviolet or blue light into high modulus degradable materials have great potential in orthopedics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0424, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Anseth
mesh_terms: D000812:Anhydrides; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D009985:Orthopedics; D010777:Photochemistry; D011108:Polymers; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014233:Tricarboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000812:Anhydrides; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D014233:Tricarboxylic Acids; C028021:tricarballylic acid