A novel approach for incorporation of mono-functional bioactive phenols into polyanhydrides.

Antiseptics based on phenol and phenolic derivatives were chemically incorporated into polyanhydrides as pendant groups via ester linkages. Polyanhydrides with antiseptic loadings of 46-58 wt.-% were obtained with molecular weights ranging from 9 400-23 000. In general, polymers with the bulkier antiseptics were more difficult to polymerize and yielded lower molecular weights. All polyanhydrides were amorphous with glass transition temperatures ranging from 27-58 °C. Polymers were deemed noncytotoxic after culturing L929 mouse fibroblast cells in media containing the polymers at two concentrations (0.10 and 0.01 mg · mL(-1) ) over three days. In summary, mono-functional bioactives can be chemically incorporated into noncytotoxic polyanhydrides.