Enzymatic synthesis of polymers

Abstract

The invention relates to new methods of enzymatic synthesis of polymers such as polyorganosilicones and polyesters, and new polymers made by these methods.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A polymer of the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein 
 R is hydroxy or alkoxy;  
 T is alkylene, arylene, substituted alkylene, or substituted arylene;  
 A is independently O, S, or NH;  
 B is independently O, S, or NH;  
 R 1  is hydrogen or alkyl;  
 x is an integral of 1 to 10;  
 y is an integral of 1 to 10; and  
 n is an integral of 1 to 10,000.  
 
   
   
       13 . The polymer of  claim 12 , wherein T is alkylene or arylene, optionally substituted with halo, hydroxy, haloalkyl, thio, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, acylamino, or aryl.  
   
   
       14 . The polymer of  claim 12 , wherein the polymer is bonded to a drug.  
   
   
       15 . The polymer of  claim 12 , wherein T is 5-hydroxyphenylene, 5-aminophenylene, 5-decanyloxyphenylene, or 5-dodecanyl-oxyphenylene.  
   
   
       16 . The polymer of  claim 12 , wherein 
 R is alkoxy;    T is arylene;    A is O;    B is O; and    R 1  is hydrogen.    
   
   
       17 . A composition comprising the polymer of  claim 12 .  
   
   
       18 . A method of synthesizing a polymer of  claim 12 , the method comprising: 
 mixing linear or cyclic monomers, oligomers, macromers, or a combination thereof to form a monomer mixture, wherein the monomer mixture comprises monomers that can produce the polymer;    adding a lipase, esterase, or protease, in a sufficient amount to produce the polymer, to the monomer mixture to form a reaction mixture; and    reacting the reaction mixture for a time and under polymerizing conditions suitable to obtain the polymer.    
   
   
       19 . A composition for controlled drug delivery, comprising the polymer of  claim 12  and a drug, wherein the polymer is configured to encapsulate the drug for controlled drug delivery.  
   
   
       20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the drug comprises an anticancer, antibiotic, or antiviral drug.  
   
   
       21 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the drug comprises camptothecin, etoposide, derivatives or analogs thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the drug is released from the composition in a controlled manner by exposing the composition to specific conditions of temperature or pH.  
   
   
       23 . A bio-implant comprising the polymer of  claim 12 .  
   
   
       24 . A biodegradable matrix for tissue engineering comprising the polymer of  claim 12 .  
   
   
       25 . An antioxidant agent comprising the polymer of  claim 12 .  
   
   
       26 . A food material or beverage comprising the antioxidant of  claim 25 .  
   
   
       27 . A photovoltaic device comprising a polymer of  claim 12 .  
   
   
       28 . A biosensor device comprising a polymer of  claim 12 .  
   
   
       29 . A polymer of the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein 
 R is hydroxy or amino;  
 T is substituted arylene;  
 A is independently O or NH;  
 B is independently O or NH;  
 R 1  is hydroxy or amino;  
 x is an integral of 4 to 50; and  
 n is an integral of 1 to 10,000.  
 
   
   
       30 . A composition comprising the polymer of  claim 29 .  
   
   
       31 . A polymer of the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein 
 R is hydroxy or amino;  
 A is independently O or NH;  
 B is independently O or NH;  
 R 1  is hydroxy or amino;  
 x is an integral of 4 to 50; and  
 n is an integral of 1 to 10,000.  
 
   
   
       32 . A composition comprising the polymer of  claim 31 .  
   
   
       33 . A method of synthesizing a polymer of  claim 29 , the method comprising: 
 mixing linear or cyclic monomers, oligomers, macromers, or a combination thereof to form a monomer mixture, wherein the monomer mixture comprises monomers that can produce the polymer;    adding a lipase, esterase, or protease, in a sufficient amount to produce the polymer, to the monomer mixture to form a reaction mixture; and    reacting the reaction mixture for a time and under polymerizing conditions suitable to obtain the polymer.    
   
   
       34 . A composition for controlled drug delivery, comprising the polymer of  claim 29  and a drug, wherein the polymer is configured to encapsulate the drug for controlled drug delivery.  
   
   
       35 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the drug is an anticancer, antibiotic, or antiviral drug.  
   
   
       36 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the drug is camptothecin, etoposide, derivatives or analogs thereof.  
   
   
       37 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the drug is released in a controlled manner by exposing the composition to specific conditions of temperature or pH.  
   
   
       38 . A bio-implant comprising the polymer of  claim 29 .  
   
   
       39 . A biodegradable matrix for tissue engineering comprising the polymer of  claim 29 .  
   
   
       40 . An antioxidant agent comprising the polymer of  claim 29 .  
   
   
       41 . A food material or beverage comprising the antioxidant of  claim 40 .  
   
   
       42 . A photovoltaic device comprising a polymer of  claim 29 .  
   
   
       43 . A biosensor device comprising a polymer of  claim 29.