Controlled release of water-soluble agents

Abstract

A method of controlled release includes exposing a polymeric composition to an aqueous liquid to permit surface erosion of a polymeric material of the polymeric composition, thereby controllably releasing the at least one water-soluble agent. The polymeric composition includes the polymeric material and the at least one water-soluble agent homogenously mixed with the polymeric material. The polymeric material includes a polyester copolymer of an alcohol monomer and an acid monomer. A method of preparing a polymeric composition includes forming a polymeric material from an alcohol monomer and an acid monomer in the presence of at least one water-soluble agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlled release of at least one water-soluble agent, the method comprising:
 exposing a polymeric composition to an aqueous liquid to permit surface erosion of a polymeric material of the polymeric composition, thereby controllably releasing the at least one water-soluble agent;   wherein the polymeric composition comprises the polymeric material and the at least one water-soluble agent homogenously mixed with the polymeric material; and   wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyester copolymer of an alcohol monomer and an acid monomer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble agent is selected from the group consisting of a vitamin, an anti-inflammatory agent, a protein, a protease, an herbicide, an aquarium food source, a growth factor, a glycoprotein, a proteoglycan, an anti-mitotic agent, an antiplatelet agent, an anti-coagulant agent, an anti-thrombotic agent, a thrombolytic agent, an enzyme, a chemotherapeutic agent, an antibiotic agent, an immunological adjuvant, a natural product, a scaffolding material, a processing agent, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol monomer comprises glycerol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acid monomer comprises a diacid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the diacid comprises a compound of the formula [HOOC(CH 2 ) n COOH], wherein N=1 to 30. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the diacid is selected from the group consisting of malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the diacid is sebacic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol monomer comprises glycerol and the acid monomer comprises sebacic acid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition further comprises an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of cis-2-decenoic acid, cis-2-dodecenoic acid, cis-11-methyl-dodecenoic acid, 12 methyl-tetradecanoic acid, cis-9-ocatdecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, sapienic acid, cis-8-octadecenoic acid, cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid, 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-dipentadione, cyclic adenosine monophosphates, alarmones (ppGpp and pppGpp), cyclic di-GMP, N-acyl homoserine lactones, diketopiperazines, 4-quinlones (2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinlone and 2-heptyl-4(1H)-quinolone), phenazines; Cu cations, Mn cations, Ag cations, Au cations, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method of preparing a polymeric composition, the method comprising:
 forming a polymeric material from an alcohol monomer and an acid monomer in the presence of at least one water-soluble agent such that the polymeric composition comprises the polymeric material and the at least one water-soluble agent homogeneously mixed with the polymeric material;   wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyester copolymer of the alcohol monomer and the acid monomer.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the water-soluble agent is selected from the group consisting of a vitamin, an anti-inflammatory agent, a protein, a protease, an herbicide, an aquarium food source, a growth factor, a glycoprotein, a proteoglycan, an anti-mitotic agent, an antiplatelet agent, an anti-coagulant agent, an anti-thrombotic agent, a thrombolytic agent, an enzyme, a chemotherapeutic agent, an antibiotic agent, an immunological adjuvant, a natural product, a scaffolding material, a processing agent, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the alcohol monomer comprises glycerol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the acid monomer comprises a diacid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the diacid is sebacic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the alcohol monomer comprises glycerol and the acid monomer comprises sebacic acid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the forming incorporates at least a portion of the at least one water-soluble agent into the polymeric material. 
     
     
         17 . A polymeric composition comprising a polymeric material and at least one water-soluble agent homogenously mixed with the polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyester copolymer of an alcohol monomer and an acid monomer. 
     
     
         18 . The polymeric composition of  claim 17 , wherein the water-soluble agent is selected from the group consisting of a vitamin, an anti-inflammatory agent, a protein, a protease, an herbicide, an aquarium food source, a growth factor, a glycoprotein, a proteoglycan, an anti-mitotic agent, an antiplatelet agent, an anti-coagulant agent, an anti-thrombotic agent, a thrombolytic agent, an enzyme, a chemotherapeutic agent, an antibiotic agent, an immunological adjuvant, a natural product, a scaffolding material, a processing agent, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The polymeric composition of  claim 17 , wherein the alcohol monomer comprises glycerol. 
     
     
         20 . The polymeric composition of  claim 17 , wherein the acid monomer comprises a diacid.