Side-chain crystallizable polymers for medical applications
View Patent ↗Side-chain crystallizable (SCC) polymers are useful in various medical applications. In certain applications, heavy atom containing side-chain crystallizable polymers (HACSCCP's) are particularly useful. An example of a HACSCCP is a polymer that comprises a main chain, a plurality of crystallizable side chains, and a plurality of heavy atoms attached to the polymer. In certain configurations, the heavy atoms are present in an amount that is effective to render the polymer radiopaque. A polymeric material that includes an HACSCCP may be fabricated into a medical device useful for at least partially occluding a body cavity. For example, such a medical device may be an embolotherapy product. A polymeric material that includes a SCC polymer may also be fabricated into other medical devices, such as stents.
1. A side chain crystallizable polymer comprising:
a main chain;
a plurality of crystallizable side chains; and
a plurality of heavy atoms attached to the polymer, the heavy atoms being present in an amount that is effective to render the polymer radiopaque;
wherein the polymer comprises a recurring unit of the formula (VI):
wherein R 12 is H or CH 3 and n4 is an integer in the range of about 1 to about 1,000.
2. The side chain crystallizable polymer of claim 1 , wherein N4 is an integer in the range of about 2 to about 10.
3. The side chain crystallizable polymer of claim 1 , further comprising a recurring unit of the formula (II):
wherein R 7 is H or CH 3 ; A 3 is a chemical group having a molecular weight of about 500 or less; and A 3 bears at least one of the heavy atoms attached to the polymer.
4. The side chain crystallizable polymer of claim 1 that is biocompatible.
5. A medical device comprising the side chain crystallizable polymer of claim 1 .
6. A method of making the side chain crystallizable polymer of claim 1 , comprising:
providing a polymer that comprises recurring hydroxyethylmethacrylate units; and
reacting at least a portion of the hydroxyethylmethacrylate units with caprolactone.