PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COPOLYMER

1 . A process for preparation of a biologically active polymer comprising an acrolein derived segment and a polyalkylene glycol oligomer, the process comprising reacting polyalkylene glycol with acrolein in aqueous solution to form a copolymer of molecular weight no more than 1000 Daltons at a temperature of no more than 15° C.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the solution is alkaline and no more than pH 12.5.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution of polyalkylene glycol and acrolein comprises water in an amount of at least 20% w/w.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of polyalkylene glycol:acrolein is at least 4:1.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the molecular weight of the polyalkylene glycol is no more than 800 Daltons.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the molecular weight of the polyalkylene glycol is from 200 to 600 Daltons.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the acrolein is added to an aqueous solution of polyalkylene glycol.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature is in the range of −20° C. to 15° C.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the aqueous solution is no more than 12° C.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the aqueous solution is at least −10° C.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the aqueous solution is −5° C. to 10° C.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the acrolein is added to an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol comprising at least 20% w/w water wherein the acrolein is added in the form of an aqueous solution of acrolein of concentration no more than 50% w/w, preferably no more than 30% w/w.

13 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising the following steps:

providing a mildly basic, preferably of pH no more than 12.5; more preferably of pH 8 to 12.5 such as 9.0 to 12.0, aqueous solution of a polyalkylene glycol, preferably polyethylene glycol of molecular weight in the range of from 200 to 600 Daltons;

adding, preferably slowly over a period such as at least 2 minutes, more preferably at least 5 minutes, acrolein as an aqueous solution of concentration no more than 50% w/w of the acrolein aqueous solution, optionally containing preservative;

maintaining the solution at a temperature of no more than 15° C., preferably no more than 12° C. during addition of the acrolein to form the copolymer; and

preferably once the acrolein monomer has been consumed, adding acid to provide a pH less than 9 and preferably no more than 8.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction of polyalkylene glycol with acrolein in aqueous solution is carried out in a reaction vessel comprising a heat exchanger for controlling the temperature.

15 . The process of claim 14 wherein the reaction of polyalkylene glycol with acrolein in aqueous solution is conducted in a stirred reaction vessel provided with a jacket of flowing coolant liquid for controlling temperature within the reaction vessel.

16 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the reaction conditions are regulated by computer control of one or more reaction parameters selected from rate of acrolein addition, rate of flow of water, temperature of water within the jacket and speed at which the aqueous solution is stirred.

17 . A method of treatment of a subject suffering a disease selected from microbial infection, viral infection and cancer comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the biologically active polymer prepared according to the process of claim 1 .

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the disease is a parenteral disease.

19 . A composition for treatment of a disease in a subject selected from bacterial infection, viral infection and cancer wherein said composition is prepared by a process comprising the process of claim 1 .