Patent ID: 8349309

Claim:
A method for synthesizing a pharmaceutically-active polymer, said method comprising reacting a biological coupling agent with a prepolymer in a step growth polymerization reaction, wherein said biological coupling agent has the general formula (III): PBio-LINK A-PBio (III), wherein PBio comprises a radical of a biologically active agent linked to LINK A through a hydrolysable covalent bond and having at least one functional group to permit step growth polymerization with said prepolymer; and LINK A is a coupled central flexible linear first segment of <2000 theoretical molecular weight formed from a diol or diamine and linked to each of said PBio fragments, wherein each PBio bears an equivalent functional group selected from hydroxyl, a primary amine, and secondary amine for polymerization with said prepolymer, and wherein said prepolymer is described by the formula: Y n -LINK B wherein (a) Y n is [LINK B-OLIGO] n ; (b) LINK B is a coupled second segment formed from a difunctional molecule selected from a diamine, diisocyanate, disulfonic acid, dicarboxylic acid, diacid chloride, and dialdehyde and having a molecular weight of 60 to 2000 Daltons linking one OLIGO to another OLIGO and an OLIGO to said biological coupling agent; (c) OLIGO is a polymer segment having a molecular weight of less than 5,000 Daltons and comprising less than 100 monomeric repeating units; and (d) n is an integer from 2-50, and wherein said biologically active agent is an antimicrobial agent selected from Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin; an antiflammatory agent selected from Amfenac, Aceclofenac, Oxacepro and Enoxolone; an anti-thrombic agent selected from Bromofenac, Tirofiban and Lotrafiban; or an antiproliferation agent selected from Acivicin and Alkeren.