An improved approach to poly(ester-carbonate) conjugates.
A novel poly(ester-carbonate) (P(LA-co-NPC)) with activated pendant carboxyl groups was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide (LA) and 2-methyl-2-(4-nitrophenoxycarbonyl)-propylene carbonate (NPC) with diethyl zinc (ZnEt(2)) as catalyst. GPC and NMR studies  confirmed the co-polymer structure. The pendant 4-nitrophenyl carboxylate groups can react with amino-containing molecules, such as 3,6,9-trioxa-1,11-undecanediamine, doxorubicin and chitosan under mild conditions. Therefore, any amino-containing molecules of biomedical interests can be conjugated  to P(LA-co-NPC) efficiently and easily. The biocompatibility of the co-polymer was tested using L929 cell line, indicating that P(LA-co-NPC) is a promising biomedical material.
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China.
Guojun
G
Mo
Jun
J
Yue
Ping'an
P
Ma
Yubin
Y
Huang
Xuesi
X
Chen
Xiabin
X
Jing
D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry; D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000737:chemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization; D013696:Temperature
D000588:Amines; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002254:Carbonates; D009596:Nitrophenols; D011091:Polyesters; D000641:Ammonia