Biodegradable polyphosphazenes containing pyrrolidone side groups

1. A polyphosphazene polymer having the following units:

wherein at least one R has the formula:

wherein Z is oxyalkyl; oxyarylalkyl; oxyaryl; aminoalkyl; aminoarylalkyl; aminoaryl; thioalkyl; -thioarylalkyl; thioaryl; aryl; or arylalkyl.

2. The polyphosphazene polymer of claim 1 wherein Z is oxyethyl, and said polyphosphazene polymer has the following structural formula:

and wherein n is from 10 to 10,000.

3. The polyphosphazene polymer of claim 1 , wherein at least one R group is selected from the group consisting of: aliphatic; aryl; aralkyl; alkaryl; carboxylic acid; heteroaromatic; carbohydrates, including glucose; heteroalkyl; halogen; (aliphatic)amino- including alkylamino-; heteroaralkyl; di(aliphatic)amino- including dialkylamino-, arylamino-, diarylamino-, alkylarylamino-; -oxyaryl including but not limited to -oxyphenylCO 2 H, -oxyphenylSO 3 H, -oxyphenylhydroxyl and -oxyphenylPO 3 H; -oxyaliphatic including -oxyalkyl, -oxy(aliphatic)CO 2 H, -oxy(aliphatic)SO 3 H, -oxy(aliphatic)PO 3 H, and -oxy(aliphatic)hydroxyl, including oxy(alkyl)hydroxyl; -oxyalkaryl, -oxyaralkyl; -thioaryl; aminoacid, aminoacid ester, thioaliphatic including -thioalkyl; -thioalkaryl; thioaralkyl; —NHC(O)O-(aryl or aliphatic); —O—[(CH 2 ) x O] y —CH 2 )—O—[(CH 2 ) x O] y (CH 2 ) x NH(CH 2 ) x SO 3 H; and —O—[(CH 2 ) x O] y -(aryl or aliphatic); wherein x is 1-8 and y is an integer of 1 to 20.

4. The polyphosphazene polymer of claim 1 , having a molecular weight of 1,000 g/mol. to 10,000,000 g./mol.

5. The polyphosphazene polymer of claim 1 , in the form of a homopolymer.

6. The polyphosphazene polymer of claim 1 , in the form of a copolymer.

7. The polyphosphazene copolymer of claim 6 , wherein said copolymer has side groups that contain a pyrrolidone functionality, and wherein the side groups that contain a pyrrolidone functionality comprise from 0.5% to 99.5% of the total side groups.

8. The polyphosphazene copolymer of claim 7 , wherein the side groups that contain a pyrrolidone functionality comprise at least 10% of the total side groups.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically active agent and a carrier for providing controlled release of said pharmaceutically active agent, said carrier comprising the polyphosphazene polymer of claim 1 .

10. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein said carrier is in a form selected from the group consisting of: matrices, microspheres, microcapsules, micelles, and stabilized liposomes.

11. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein said polyphosphazene polymer comprises about 1% by weight to about 99% by weight of said carrier for providing controlled release of said pharmaceutically active agent.

12. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11 , wherein said polyphosphazene polymer comprises about 5% by weight to about 99% by weight of said carrier for providing controlled release of said pharmaceutically active agent.

13. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 , wherein said pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group consisting of: allergens, amebicides and trichomonacides, amino acid preparations, analeptic agents, analgesics, analgesics/antacids, anesthetics, anorexics, antacids, antihelmintics, antialcohol preparations, antiarthritics, antiasthma agents, antibacterials and antiseptics, antibiotics, antiviral antibiotics, anticancer preparations, anticholinergic drug inhibitors, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antidiabetic agents, antidiarrheals, antidiuretics, antienuresis agents, antifibrinolytic agents, antifibrotics (systemic), antiflatulents, antifungal agents, antigonadotropin, antihistamines, antihyperammonia agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antimalarials, antimetabolites, anti-migraine preparations, antinauseants, antineoplastics, anti-obesity preparations, antiparasitics, anti-parkinsonism drugs, antipruritics, antipyretics, antispasmodics and antichloinergics, antitoxoplasmosis agents, antitussives, antivertigo agents, antiviral agents, biologicals, bismuth preparations, bone metabolism regulators, bowel evacuants, bronchial dilators, calcium preparations, cardiovascular preparations, central nervous system stimulants, cerumenolytics, chelating agents, choleretics, cholesterol reducers and anti-hyperlipemics, colonic content acidifiers, cough and cold preparations, decongestants, expectorants and combinations, diuretics, emetics, enzymes and digestants, fertility agents, fluorine preparations, galactokinetic agents, geriatrics, germicides, hematinics, hemorrhoidal preparations, histamine H. receptor antagonists, hormones, hydrocholeretics, hyperglycemic agents, hypnotics, immunosuppressives, laxatives, mucolytics, muscle relaxants, narcotic antagonists, narcotic detoxification agents, ophthalmological osmotic dehydrating agents, otic preparations, oxytocics, parashypatholytics, parathyroid preparations, pediculicides, phosphorus preparations, premenstrual therapeutics, psychostimulants, quinidines, radiopharmaceuticals, respiratory stimulants, salt substitutes, scabicides, sclerosing agents, sedatives, sympatholytics, sympathomimetics, thrombolytics, thyroid preparations, tranquilizers, tuberculosis preparations, uricosuric agents, urinary acidifiers, urinary alkalinizing agents, urinary tract analgesic, urological irrigants, uterine contractants, vaginal therapeutics, and vitamins.

14. A Poly{di[2-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl)ethoxy]phosphazene} having the following structural formula:

wherein each of a, b, c, d, e, and f are NMR data characterizing said Poly{di[2-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl)ethoxy]phosphazene} as follows:

NMR, ppm

1 H

2.02 (d); 2.38 (e); 3.49 (b); 3.51 (c); 4.03 (a)

13 C

178.11 (f); 63.65 (a); 48.61 (b); 43.11 (c); 30.79 (e); 17.78 (d)

31 P

−7.4.

and wherein n is from 10 to 10,000.

15. An extracoporeal device for use in surgery, comprising coatings or materials comprising the polyphosphazene polymer of claim 1 .

16. The extracoporeal device of claim 15 , in a form selected from the group consisting of: blood oxygenators, blood pumps, blood sensors, and tubing used to carry blood.

17. A surgically implantable device, comprising coatings or materials comprising the polyphosphazene polymer of claim 1 .

18. The surgically implantable device of claim 17 , in a form selected from the group consisting of vascular grafts, stents, electrical stimulation leads, heart valves, orthopedic devices, catheters, guide wires, shunts, sensors, replacement devices for nucleus pulposus, cochlear or middle ear implants, and intraocular lenses.