Patent ID: 7368169

Claim:
A cross-linked polymer network comprising biodegradable polymer backbone chains of a poly-carbonate, polyiminocarbonate or polyarylate polymerized from a tyrosine-derived diphenol compound having the structure: wherein R 1 is —CH═CH— or (—CH 2 ) a , in which a has a value from zero to eight, inclusive, and b is one; each polymer backbone chain is crosslinked to another polymer backbone chain via tyrosine-derived diphenol monomeric repeating units in each polymer in which hydrazide crosslinking compounds are covalently attached via R 2 and each polymer backbone chain further comprises tyrosine-derived diphenol monomeric repeating units in which R 2 is selected from the group consisting of straight and branched alkyl and alkylaryl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; and each hydrazide crosslinking compound has the structure of Formula I; H 2 N—HN—C(═O)—R—P—R—C(═O)—NH—NH 2 (I) in which P is a water-soluble, biodegradable polymer and each R is independently —CH 2 —, —NH—or O.