Thiol-ene polymerization with vinylesters and vinylcarbonate

1. A curable composition comprising:

(a) 60 wt. % to 95 wt. % of one or more vinylcarbonate monomers, wherein said one or more vinylcarbonate monomers are respectively selected from compounds of the general formula (II) below:

wherein

m independently ranges from 2 to 1000;

R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of:

(i) n-valent radicals, each of said n-valent radicals comprising a carbon chain or a carbon cycle or both,

wherein said carbon chain and/or carbon cycle each, independently from one another, comprises from 1 to 30 carbon atoms,

wherein said carbon chain can be straight, branched, saturated or unsaturated, and optionally containing one or more interspersed heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and/or

wherein said carbon chain optionally being substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —CN, —CHO, and ═O,

wherein said carbon cycle can be saturated or unsaturated, and optionally containing one or more interspersed heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and/or

wherein said carbon cycle optionally being substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —CN, —CHO, and ═O, and

(ii) n-valent radicals of biodegradable, biocompatible oligomers and polymers, said oligomers and polymers being selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, polypeptides, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers, and fatty acid derivatives;

(b) 0.1 to 40 wt. % of one or more multifunctional thiols;

(c) 0 to 10 wt. % of a biocompatible polymerization initiator; and

(d) a bioactive agent selected from the group consisting of prophylactic agent; antipyretic analgesic anti-inflammatory agent; antibacterial agent; antifungal agent; anti-viral agent; high potency analgesic; cell selective protein; cell adherence promoter; bone formation promoter; porosity forming agent; diagnostic agent or combinations thereof.

2. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein at least one vinylcarbonate monomers of the general formula (II), accounts for 50 mole percent of all monomers contained.

3. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein at least 50, mole percent of all vinyl carbonate monomers are difunctional, cross linking monomers in which m=3.

4. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more vinylcarbonate monomers are selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol bis(vinyl carbonate) (EGDVC); 1,4-butanediol bis(vinyl carbonate) (BDDVC); 1,6-hexanediol bis(vinyl carbonate) (HDDVC); glycerine tris(vinyl carbonate) (GTVC); diethylene glycol bis(vinyl carbonate) (DEGDVC); polyethylene glycol (400) bis(vinyl carbonate) (PEGDVC); ricinus oil tris(vinyl carbonate) (RiTVC); hydrated ricinus oil tris(vinyl carbonate) (HRiTVC); and diethylene glycol bis[O—(O′-vinyloxycarbonyl) polylactate] (DEG(PLAVC) 2 ).

5. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is derived from one or more diols, said one or more diols being selected from the group consisting of: 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, and 1,12-dodecanediol.

6. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is derived from one or more diols, said one or more diols comprising a polyethylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol.

7. The curable composition of claim 6 , wherein said polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight ranging from 200 g/mole to 1000 g/mole.

8. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more vinyl carbonate monomers are selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol bis(vinyl carbonate) (EGDVC); 1,4-butanediol bis(vinyl carbonate) (BDDVC); 1,6-hexanediol bis(vinyl carbonate) (HDDVC); glycerine tris(vinyl carbonate) (GTVC); diethylene glycol bis(vinyl carbonate) (DEGDVC); polyethylene glycol(400) bis(vinyl carbonate) (PEGDVC); and ricinus oil tris(vinyl carbonate) (RiTVC).

9. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more multifunctional thiols are selected from the group consisting of: pentaerythritol tetra-(3-mercaptopropionate), ethoxylated pentaerythritol tetra-(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylpropane tri(3-mercapto-propionate), ethoxylated trimethylpropane tri(3-mercapto-propionate), glycol dimercaptoacetate, trimethylolpropane trimercaptoacetate, polypropylene glycol (3-mercaptopropionate), and polypropylene glycol (3-mercaptopropionate).

10. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more vinyl carbonate monomers are selected from the group consisting of:

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 12.

11. The curable composition according to claim 10 , wherein said one or more vinyl carbonate monomers comprise 1,4-Butanediol bis(vinyl carbonate)

12. The curable composition according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more multifunctional thiols are selected from the group consisting of:

13. A method for augmenting or filling a structure in a patient comprising,

implanting the curable composition into said patient at a site of the structure; said curable composition comprising:

(a) 60 wt. % to 95 wt. % of one or more vinylcarbonate monomers, wherein said one or more vinylcarbonate monomers are respectively selected from compounds of the general formula (II) below:

wherein

m independently ranges from 2 to 1000;

R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of:

(i) n-valent radicals, each of said n-valent radicals comprising a carbon chain or a carbon cycle or both,

wherein said carbon chain and/or carbon cycle each, independently from one another, comprises from 1 to 30 carbon atoms,

wherein said carbon chain can be straight, branched, saturated or unsaturated, and optionally containing one or more interspersed heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and/or

wherein said carbon chain optionally being substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —CN, —CHO, and ═O,

wherein said carbon cycle can be saturated or unsaturated, and optionally containing one or more interspersed heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and/or

wherein said carbon cycle optionally being substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —CN, —CHO, and ═O, and

(ii) n-valent radicals of biodegradable, biocompatible oligomers and polymers, said oligomers and polymers being selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, polypeptides, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers, and fatty acid derivatives;

(b) 0.1 to 40 wt. % of one or more multifunctional thiols; and

(c) 0 to 10 wt. % of a biocompatible polymerization initiator;

initiating said curable composition to thereby form a resorbable, biocompatible polymer.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said initiating is performed by irradiating said curable composition.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said irradiating is performed using an optical fiber inserted at the site of the structure.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the implanting step is performed by injecting the curable composition through a hole in the patient's skin and into a vertebra.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the implanting step is performed by:

inserting a balloon through a hole in the patient's skin into a vertebra;

inflating the balloon to create a void at the site of the structure; and

injecting the curable composition through a hole in the patient's skin into a vertebra.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the implanting step is performed by injecting the curable composition into the patient's oral and maxillofacial region.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the structure is located at a site of one or more of the following: a fracture, a deformity, a void, and a tumor.

20. A biodegradable implant comprising: a copolymer having monomer units of:

(a) 60 wt. % to 95 wt. % of one or more vinylcarbonate monomers, wherein said one or more vinylcarbonate monomers are respectively selected from compounds of the general formula (II) below:

wherein

m independently ranges from 2 to 1000;

R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of:

(i) n-valent radicals, each of said n-valent radicals comprising a carbon chain or a carbon cycle or both,

wherein said carbon chain and/or carbon cycle each, independently from one another, comprises from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, from 3 to 25 carbon atoms, from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, or from 5 to 15 carbon atoms,

wherein said carbon chain can be straight, branched, saturated or unsaturated, and optionally containing one or more interspersed heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and/or

wherein said carbon chain optionally being substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —CN, —CHO, and ═O,

wherein said carbon cycle can be saturated or unsaturated, and optionally containing one or more interspersed heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and/or

wherein said carbon cycle optionally being substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —CN, —CHO, and ═O, and

(ii) n-valent radicals of biodegradable, biocompatible oligomers and polymers, said oligomers and polymers being selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, polypeptides, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers, and fatty acid derivatives; and

(b) a bioactive agent selected from the group consisting of prophylactic agent; antipyretic analgesic anti-inflammatory agent; antibacterial agent; antifungal agent; anti-viral agent; high potency analgesic; cell selective protein; cell adherence promoter; bone formation promoter; porosity forming agent; diagnostic agent; or combinations thereof.

21. A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional article through an additive manufacturing process, said method comprising:

(a) depositing a layer of a curable composition into a mold of three-dimensional article; said curable composition comprising:

(i) 60 wt. % to 95 wt. % of one or more vinylcarbonate monomers, wherein said one or more vinylcarbonate monomers are respectively selected from compounds of the general formula (II) below:

wherein

m independently ranges from 2 to 1000;

R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of:

(i) n-valent radicals, each of said n-valent radicals comprising a carbon chain or a carbon cycle or both,

wherein said carbon chain and/or carbon cycle each, independently from one another, comprises from 1 to 30 carbon atoms,

wherein said carbon chain can be straight, branched, saturated or unsaturated, and optionally containing one or more interspersed heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and/or

wherein said carbon chain optionally being substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —CN, —CHO, and ═O,

wherein said carbon cycle can be saturated or unsaturated, and optionally containing one or more interspersed heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, and/or

wherein said carbon cycle optionally being substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —CN, —CHO, and ═O, and

(ii) n-valent radicals of biodegradable, biocompatible oligomers and polymers, said oligomers and polymers being selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, polypeptides, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers, and fatty acid derivatives;

(ii) 0.1 to 40 wt. % of one or more multifunctional thiols;

(iii) 0 to 10 wt. % of a biocompatible polymerization initiator; and

(iv) a bioactive agent selected from the group consisting of prophylactic agent; antipyretic analgesic anti-inflammatory agent; antibacterial agent; antifungal agent; anti-viral agent; high potency analgesic; cell selective protein; cell adherence promoter; bone formation promoter; porosity forming agent; diagnostic agent or combinations thereof;

(b) directing an energy source-to cause radical polymerization of the curable composition to thereby form a cross-section layer of the 3D object/article, the cross-section layer having a thickness ranging from about 0.001 mm to about 3 mm; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) to form the three-dimensional article in a layerwise fashion.