Linear polyesteramides from aminophenolic esters

1. A synthetic polymer comprising monomer units represented by the formula:

wherein R is —(CR 3 R 4 ) a — or —CR 3 ═CR 4 —;

R 1 is hydrogen; saturated or unsaturated alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or alkyl ether having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or —(R 5 ) q O((CR 3 R 4 ) r O) s —R 6 ;

each R 2 is independently a divalent, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, arylene, alkylarylene, divalent alkyl ether or aryl ether moiety having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; —(R 5 ) q O((CR 3 R 4 ) r O) s (R 5 ) q —; or —(R 5 ) q CO 2 ((CR 3 R 4 ) r O) s CO(R 5 ) q —;

R 3 and R 4 are each independently, hydrogen or linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,

R 5 is independently linear or branched lower alkylene or lower alkenylene;

R 6 is independently linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated lower alkyl;

the aromatic ring has from zero to four Z 1 substituents, each of which is independently selected from the group consisting of halide, lower alkyl, alkoxy, nitro, alkyl ether, a protected hydroxyl group, a protected amino group and a protected carboxylic acid group;

Y is

a is 0 to 10;

each q is independently 1 to 4; each r is independently 1 to 4; and

each s is independently 1 to 5000.

2. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and benzyl.

3. The polymer of claim 2 , wherein R is methylene or ethylene.

4. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, —CH 2 OCH 2 —, and —(CH 2 ) q CO 2 —(CH 2 CH 2 —O) s —C(O)—(CH 2 ) q —, and —(CH 2 ) q O(CH 2 CH 2 O) s (CH 2 ) q —.

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polymer of any one of claim 1 , and one or more drugs.

6. The pharmaceutical composition claim 5 , wherein said one or more drugs are selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial agents, antibacterial agents, anesthetics, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-scarring agents, anti-fibrotic agents, leukotriene inhibitors, chemotherapeutic agents.

7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein said one or more drugs is an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of rifampin, minocycline, gentamicin, vancomycin, triclosan, and combinations thereof.

8. A medical device comprising one or more of the polymers of any one of claim 1 .

9. The medical device of claim 8 , further comprising one or more drugs.

10. The medical device of claims 8 , wherein said device is a stent, a coated stent, a surgical mesh, a film coated device, a device covering or a catheter.

11. A medical device comprising said medical device and a coating on or adhered to a surface of said device, the coating comprising one or more layers of a polymer of any one of claim 1 .

12. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein one or more layers of said coating further comprises one or more drugs.

13. A blend of polymers comprising one or more of the polymers of any one of claim 1 , and one or more second polymers.

14. The blend of claim 13 , wherein said one or more second polymers are selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and copolymers and mixtures thereof, poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA), polyglycolic acid [polyglycolide (PGA)], poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) (PLLA/PLA), poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLLA/PGA), poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLA/PGA), poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PGA/PTMC), poly(D,L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLA/PCL) and poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) (PGA/PCL); poly(oxa)esters, polyethylene oxide (PEO), polydioxanone (PDS), polypropylene fumarate, poly(ethyl glutamate-co-glutamic acid), poly(tert-butyloxy-carbonylmethyl glutamate), polycaprolactone (PCL), polycaprolactone co-butylacrylate, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHBT) and copolymers of polyhydroxybutyrate, poly(phosphazene), poly(phosphate ester), poly(amino acid), polydepsipeptides, maleic anhydride copolymers, polyiminocarbonates, poly[(97.5% dimethyl-trimethylene carbonate)-co-(2.5% trimethylene carbonate)], poly(orthoesters), tyrosine-derived polyarylates, tyrosine-derived polycarbonates, tyrosine-derived polyiminocarbonates, tyrosine-derived polyphosphonates, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, polyalkylene oxides, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polysaccharides such as hyaluronic acid, chitosan, regenerated cellulose, proteins, gelatin, collagen, mixtures and copolymers thereof, and PEG derivatives or blends of any of the foregoing.

15. The blend of claim 14 , further comprising one or more drugs selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial agents, anesthetics, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-scarring agents, anti-fibrotic agents and leukotriene inhibitors.

16. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein said repeat units are strictly alternating of the form (ab) n .

17. The synthetic polymer of claim 1 , selected from the group consisting of p(TE succinate), p(TE succinate) alternating, p(TE glutarate), p(TE glutarate) alternating, p(TE diglycolate), p(TE diglycolate) alternating, p(TE:15T glutarate) and p(TE:15TBz glutarate).