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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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  claim 1 , 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  claim 1 , having from 2 to about 10 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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The polymer or composition of  claim 1 , 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  claim 9 , 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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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  claim 1 , formulated as a solid, liquid, gel, foam, or putty. 
     
     
         24 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The polymer or composition of  claim 23 , wherein the modified polymer is present at 0.1 to about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         30 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method for treating a wound, comprising, applying the polymer or composition of  claim 1  to a bleeding wound. 
     
     
         38 - 46 . (canceled)