The present invention relates to polymers, compositions thereof, and methods of producing polymers in general. Furthermore, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and uses of said polymers, compositions and pharmaceutical compositions. More particular, the present invention relates to polymers of jasmine lactone, where pendant groups of said polymers can readily be used for attaching functional moieties comprising active agents. Furthermore, the present invention relates to modified jasmine lactones that can readily be used in methods of producing polymers of the present invention. More particular, the invention relates to polymers from renewable monomers, which can be used in applications such as drug delivery and diagnosis, polymer-drug conjugates, medical devices, cosmetic products, polymers with marker unit, polymers usable as flame retardants, tissue engineering, coatings, paints, lubricants and biodegradable plastics.

The present invention provides a branched biodegradable and biocompatible polymer (e.g. polycaprolactone) and use thereof in bioadhesion of at least one biological surface.

There are provided PVP-PLA block copolymers as defined in Formula (I): I wherein, x is an initiator alcohol having a boiling point greater than 145° C., n is, on average, from 20 and 40, and m is, on average, from 10 and 40, wherein the block copolymers have a number average molecular weight (M.sub.n) of at least 3000 Da. Polymers demonstrating flexibility in formulating multiple low-solubility active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are described. Liquid and dry pharmaceutical formulations comprising an API are described, along with delivery methods, uses, and kits. APIs may include, e.g. flurbiprofen, celecoxib, acetaminophen, or propofol. Also provided is a method of synthesizing the PVP-PLA block copolymers by (i) initiating polymerization of D,L-Lactide from the initiator alcohol x to form poly(lactic acid), adding a xanthate to form a PLA macroinitiator, and polymerizing NVP onto the PLA macroinitiator, by controlled polymerization, to form the block copolymer compound of Formula (I). ##STR00001##

There are provided PVP-PLA block copolymers as defined in Formula (I): I wherein, x is an initiator alcohol having a boiling point greater than 145° C., n is, on average, from 20 and 40, and m is, on average, from 10 and 40, wherein the block copolymers have a number average molecular weight (M.sub.n) of at least 3000 Da. Polymers demonstrating flexibility in formulating multiple low-solubility active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are described. Liquid and dry pharmaceutical formulations comprising an API are described, along with delivery methods, uses, and kits. APIs may include, e.g. flurbiprofen, celecoxib, acetaminophen, or propofol. Also provided is a method of synthesizing the PVP-PLA block copolymers by (i) initiating polymerization of D,L-Lactide from the initiator alcohol x to form poly(lactic acid), adding a xanthate to form a PLA macroinitiator, and polymerizing NVP onto the PLA macroinitiator, by controlled polymerization, to form the block copolymer compound of Formula (I).

##STR00001##

Disclosed are compositions comprising polymeric nanoparticles and methods of using the same. The polymeric nanoparticles can be conjugated with a targeting ligand that is a substrate for a solid tumor-specific cell protein. The polymeric nanoparticles can also comprises an imaging compound and/or a therapeutic agent encapsulated in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoparticle. A cancer therapeutic composition comprising the nanoparticle is also disclosed. The disclosed nanoparticles can be used to target and deliver imaging and/or therapeutic compounds to cancer cells, thereby identifying and/or treating a solid tumor cell target. Methods for treating cancer, such as lung cancer, using the polymeric nanoparticles are also disclosed.

Disclosed are compositions comprising polymeric nanoparticles and methods of using the same. The polymeric nanoparticles can be conjugated with a targeting ligand that is a substrate for a solid tumor-specific cell protein. The polymeric nanoparticles can also comprises an imaging compound and/or a therapeutic agent encapsulated in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoparticle. A cancer therapeutic composition comprising the nanoparticle is also disclosed. The disclosed nanoparticles can be used to target and deliver imaging and/or therapeutic compounds to cancer cells, thereby identifying and/or treating a solid tumor cell target. Methods for treating cancer, such as lung cancer, using the polymeric nanoparticles are also disclosed.

Provided are methods of producing sulfur- and phosphorus-containing polymers from beta-lactones. The sulfur- and phosphorus-containing polymers include bio-based sulfur- and phosphorus-containing polymers that may be obtained from renewable sources.

It is provided a method for manufacturing a hyperbranched polyester polyol derivative, comprising the following steps: a) reacting only glycidol and -caprolactone at a temperature lying in a range of between 40 C. and 140 C. to obtain a hyperbranched polyester polyol in which caprolactone residues are randomly arranged; b) reacting the hyperbranched polyester polyol of step a) with a sulfation reagent to obtain a sulfated hyperbranched polyester polyol as hyperbranched polyester polyol derivative.

The invention belongs to the field of macromolecules and biomedical materials, and relates to a polymer, a block copolymer comprising the polymer as a segment, methods for preparing the polymer and for preparing the block copolymer, a micelle particle or a vesicle particle prepared from the block copolymer, and a composition comprising the polymer, the block copolymer, the micelle particle and/or the vesicle particle. The polymer provided in the invention can be used as a novel biomedical material in in the fields such as pharmaceutical formulations, immunological formulations, and gene delivery reagents.

Provided herein are methods and systems for producing biodegradable beta-propiolactone-based polyester polymers from renewable EO and CO on an industrial scale.