This invention relates to shape memory block copolymers comprising: at least one switching segment having a T.sub.trans from 10 to 70° C.; and at least one soft segment, wherein at least one of the switching segments in linked to at least one of the soft segments by at least one linkage, and wherein the copolymer transforms from a first shape to a second shape by application of a first stimulus and the copolymer transforms back to the first shape from the second shape by application of a second stimulus. The shape memory block copolymers may be biocompatible and biodegradable.

A process for the manufacture of a degradable polycyanurate bulk molding composition includes: contacting a liquid cyanate ester monomer with an additive material and a polymerization catalyst to form a reaction mixture; maintaining a temperature of the reaction mixture at about 80° C. to about 100° C. to form a polycyanurate product having a viscosity of about 120 to about 200 centipoise at 23° C.; heating a reinforcing filler at a temperature of about 50 to about 150° C. to form a pre-heated reinforcing filler; and blending the polycyanurate product with the pre-heated reinforcing filler to form the degradable polycyanurate bulk molding composition. The bulk molding composition can be used to form a degradable polycyanurate article.

The present invention relates to biodegradable polyesteramides (PEAs) comprising hydrophobic alpha-amino acids, diols, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and optionally diamines whereby at least one of the dicarboxylic acids, diols or diamines comprises disulphide linkages. The present invention also relates to the use of the polyesteramides in medical applications such as cancer treatment, ophthalmic applications, therapeutic cardiovascular applications, veterinary applications, pain management applications, MSK applications and vaccine delivery compositions. The present invention also relates to a drug delivery composition comprising the PEA's and to a drug delivery system such as micro- or nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, polymerosomes, micro- and nanogels, polymerosomes or nanotubes.

Embodiments include degradable polyethers comprising ester units from a cyclic ester or carbonate units from carbon dioxide incorporated into a poly(ethylene oxide) backbone or a multifunctional core of a degradable polyether star. Embodiments include methods of forming a degradable polyether comprising contacting an ethylene oxide monomer with a lactide monomer or carbon dioxide in the presence of an alkyl borane and an initiator. Embodiments include methods of forming degradable polyether stars comprising contacting a diepoxide monomer with carbon dioxide and/or a cyclic ester in the presence of an initiator and a first amount of an alkyl borane to form a multifunctional core comprising degradable carbonate linkages and/or degradable ester linkages, and contacting the multifunctional core with an ethylene oxide monomer in the presence of a second amount of an alkyl borane to form arms of a polyether attached to the degradable multifunctional core.

An object of the present invention is to improve spinnability, productivity, and tensile strength of a polyester fiber containing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate). By spinning the polyester resin containing the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) at a high spinning velocity, the spinnability, productivity, and tensile strength of the polyester fiber can be improved.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to biorenewable polyesters and polyester copolymers derived from camphoric acid, methods of making same, and articles comprising same. The disclosed biorenewable polyesters can have a Mn of from about 5,000 Da to about 500,000 Da. Also disclosed herein is the preparation of various monomers useful in the reactions disclosed herein, e.g., cis-1,4-anhydroerythritol and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) camphorate. In various aspects, the disclosed biorenewable polyesters and polyester copolymers can be used to the production of various articles utilizing a conventional polyester or polyester copolymer, that is, to replace, in part or in whole, a conventional nonbiorenewable polyester or polyester copolymer. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.g., ingestion of a solution that induces rapid dissolution/degradation). In certain embodiments, the structure has a modular design, combining a material configured for controlled release of therapeutic, diagnostic, and/or enhancement agents with a structural material necessary for gastric residence but configured for controlled and/or tunable degradation/dissolution to determine the time at which retention shape integrity is lost and the structure passes out of the gastric cavity. For example, in certain embodiments, the residence structure comprises a first elastic component, a second component configured to release an active substance (e.g., a therapeutic agent), and, optionally, a linker. In some such embodiments, the linker may be configured to degrade such that the residence structure breaks apart and is released from the location internally of the subject after a predetermined amount of time.

Provided are oriented biodegradable thermoplastic polyurethane films. The films may be prepared by extruding and drawing biodegradable polyurethane films. The polyurethanes may be prepared from biodegradable polyols and/or biodegradable chain extenders. The films possess high tensile strength yet are degradable under biological conditions. The films may be utilized in the fabrication of devices, particularly implantable medical devices.

The invention relates, generally, to porous absorbent materials which are suitable for packing antrums or other cavities of the human or animal body. More particularly, it relates to hydrophilic biodegradable foams, which may be used e.g. in the form of a plug or tampon, for instance for controlling bleeding, wound closure, prevent tissue adhesion and/or support tissue regeneration. The invention provides an absorbent foam, suitable for packing antrums or other cavities of the human or animal body, comprising a biodegradable synthetic polymer, which polymer preferably comprises —C(O)—O—groups in the backbone of the polymer, for instance polyurethane and/or polyester units combined with polyethers.

The present application provides polymer materials having the desired properties for implantation into a human or animal body, in particular, biocompatibility, biodegradability, radiopacity and mechanical properties. Methods of making such polymer materials, compositions or devices comprising such polymer materials, and uses of such polymer materials, compositions and devices are also disclosed.