Variable-size hydrophobically-modified polymers

Abstract

In various aspects, the invention provides compositions of variable-length hydrophobically-modified polymers. These variable-length hydrophobes decorated along the hydrophilic polymer backbone provide advanced properties and allow for precise control over the behavior of the resulting amphiphilic polymer, including in aqueous solution. Such control allows for enhanced functionality of the amphiphilic polymer relative to standard single-length hydrophobe grafting designs, including for hemostasis.

1 . A hydrophobically-modified polymer or composition thereof, wherein the modified polymer has hydrophobic groups of at least two different sizes attached to the polymer backbone. 
     
     
         2 . The polymer or composition of  claim 1 , wherein the modified polymer is amphiphilic. 
     
     
         3 . The polymer or composition of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer is chitosan, alginate, or cellulosic biopolymer. 
     
     
         4 . The polymer or composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a synthetic polymer, optionally selected from polyethylene glycol, poly lactic co-glycolic acid, polymethylmethacrylic acid, and silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The polymer or composition of  claim 3 , wherein the polymer is chitosan, and hydrophobic groups are incorporated by anhydride chemistry. 
     
     
         6 . The polymer or composition of any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the polymer has from about 10% to about 50% of functional groups occupied by a hydrophobic group. 
     
     
         7 . The polymer or composition of  claim 6 , wherein the modified polymer has about 5 to about 100 moles of hydrophobic group per mole of polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The polymer or composition of  claim 7 , wherein the molecular weight of the polymer is from about 40,000 to about 500,000 Daltons. 
     
     
         9 . The polymer or composition of any one of  claims 1  to  8 , having from 2 to about 10 different hydrophobic groups, and optionally from 2 to about 5 different hydrophobic groups. 
     
     
         10 . The polymer or composition of  claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic groups are independently selected from linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon groups. 
     
     
         11 . The polymer or composition of  claim 10 , wherein the hydrophobic groups include at least one saturated hydrocarbon, which is optionally a conjugated fatty acid. 
     
     
         12 . The polymer or composition of  claim 10 , wherein the hydrophobic groups include at least one unsaturated, aromatic, and/or polyaromatic hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         13 . The polymer or composition of any one of  claims 10  to  12 , wherein the hydrophobic groups each have from 1 to about 100 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         14 . The polymer or composition of  claim 13 , wherein the hydrophobic groups each have from 1 to about 28 carbon atoms, or from 1 to 18 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         15 . The polymer or composition of any one of  claims 9  to  12 , having at least one or two of:
 (a) a C1 to C5 hydrocarbon group, which may be substituted; 
 (b) a C6 to C12 hydrocarbon group, which may be substituted; 
 (c) a C13 to C28 hydrocarbon group, which may be substituted; 
 (d) a hydrophobic group having a size greater than C28. 
 
     
     
         16 . The polymer or composition of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic groups comprise a C1 to C4 hydrocarbon and a hydrocarbon greater than C6. 
     
     
         17 . The polymer or composition of  claim 16 , wherein the C1 to C4 hydrocarbon group is present at 5:1 to 25:1 with respect to hydrocarbon groups of C6 or greater. 
     
     
         18 . The polymer or composition of  claim 16  or  17 , comprising a hydrocarbon group of from C6 to C12 and a hydrocarbon group of from C16 or C18. 
     
     
         19 . The polymer composition of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic groups comprise a C6 to C12 hydrocarbon and a C16 to C28 hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         20 . The polymer or composition of  claim 19 , wherein the C6 to C12 hydrocarbons are present at a ratio of from 5:1 to 20:1 with respect to C16 to C28 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         21 . The polymer or composition of  claim 20 , comprising C8 hydrocarbons and C14, C16, and/or C18 hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         22 . The polymer or composition of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic groups comprise a C1 to C4 hydrocarbon, a C6 to C12 hydrocarbon, and a C16 to C28 hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         23 . The polymer or composition of any one of  claims 1  to  22 , formulated as a solid, liquid, gel, foam, or putty. 
     
     
         24 . The polymer or composition of  claim 23 , wherein the polymer is lyophilized or is a dehydrated solution or dehydrated foam. 
     
     
         25 . The polymer or composition of  claim 23 , wherein the polymer is formulated with one or more solvents. 
     
     
         26 . The polymer or composition of  claim 25 , wherein the solvent is water. 
     
     
         27 . The polymer or composition of  claim 25 , wherein the solvent is an industrial solvent, which may be an organic solvent. 
     
     
         28 . The polymer or composition of  claim 25 , wherein the solvent is paint or industrial coating. 
     
     
         29 . The polymer or composition of any one of  claims 23  to  28 , wherein the modified polymer is present at 0.1 to about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         30 . The polymer or composition of  claim 27 , wherein the polymer is formulated with at least one synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         31 . The polymer or composition of  claim 30 , wherein the synthetic polymer is a polythene, polystyrene, polyacrylate, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, polysulfide, or polycarbonate. 
     
     
         32 . The polymer or composition of  claim 30 , wherein the synthetic polymer is polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         33 . The polymer or composition of any one of  claims 1  to  32 , wherein the modified polymer is anti-bacterial and/or anti-fungal. 
     
     
         34 . The polymer or composition of  claim 33 , wherein the composition is a fiber or textile. 
     
     
         35 . The polymer or composition of any one of  claims 1  to  34 , wherein the composition is paint, industrial coating, industrial thickener, drug delivery matrix, cosmetic, or personal care composition. 
     
     
         36 . The polymer or composition of  claim 35 , wherein the composition is a hemostat. 
     
     
         37 . A method for treating a wound, comprising, applying the polymer or composition of  claim 36  to a bleeding wound. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the wound has high exudate or blood flow. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the polymer comprises C6 to C12 hydrocarbon groups and C16 to C28 hydrocarbon groups. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the wound is an internal wound. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the polymer comprises C1 to C4 hydrocarbon groups and C6 to C12 hydrocarbon groups. 
     
     
         42 . A polymer composition comprising from 10% to about 50% of functional groups along the backbone occupied by a fatty anhydride moiety. 
     
     
         43 . The polymer of  claim 42 , wherein the polymer is chitosan, alginate, or cellulosic biopolymer. 
     
     
         44 . The polymer of  claim 43 , wherein the modified polymer has about 5 to about 100 moles of fatty anhydride moiety per mole of polymer. 
     
     
         45 . The polymer of any one of  claims 42  to  44 , wherein the molecular weight of the polymer is from about 40,000 to about 500,000 Daltons. 
     
     
         46 . The polymer of any one of  claims 42  to  45 , having from 2 to about 10 different fatty anhydride groups conjugated along the backbone.