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 (bc) n ,

b is

c is

n is a number of repeat units;

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. A synthetic polymer as recited in claim 1 , wherein the number of repeat units is an average weight of the synthetic polymer divided by a molecular weight of bc.

3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the synthetic polymer of claim 1 and one or more drugs.

4. A pharmaceutical composition as recited in claim 3 , wherein the one or more drugs are selected from a group consisting of antimicrobial agents, antibacterial agents, aneshetics, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-scarring agents, anti-fibrotic agents, leukotriene inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents.

5. A pharmaceutical composition as recited in claim 3 , wherein the one or more drugs is an antimicrobial agent selected from a group consisting of rifampin, minocycline, gentamicin, vancomycin, triclosan, and combinations thereof.

6. A synthetic polymer as recited in claim 3 , wherein the one or more drugs are selected from a group consisting of rifampin, minocycline, anesthetics and anti-inflammatory agents.

7. A synthetic polymer as recited in claim 1 , wherein R 1 is independently selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and benzyl.

8. A synthetic polymer as recited in claim 7 , wherein R is methylene or ethylene.

9. A synthetic polymer as recited in claim 1 , wherein R is methylene or ethylene.

10. A synthetic polymer as recited in claim 1 , wherein R 2 is independently selected from a group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, —CH 2 OCH 2 —, —(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 —.

11. A medical device comprising the synthetic polymer of claim 1 .

12. A medical device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the medical device is a stent, a coated stent, a surgical mesh, a film coated device, a device covering or a catheter.

13. A medical device as recited in claim 11 , further comprising one or more drugs.

14. A medical device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the one or more drugs are selected from a group consisting of antimicrobial agents, antibacterial agents, aneshetics, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-scarring agents, anti-fibrotic agents, leukotriene inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents.

15. A medical device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the one or more drugs is an antimicrobial agent selected from a group consisting of rifampin, minocycline, gentamicin, vancomycin, triclosan, and combinations thereof.

16. A medical device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the one or more drugs are selected from a group consisting of rifampin, minocycline, anesthetics and anti-inflammatory agents.

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

18. A medical device as recited in claim 17 , wherein one or more layers of said coating further comprises one or more drugs.

19. A blend of polymers comprising the synthetic polymer of claim 1 and one or more second polymers.

20. A blend of polymers as recited in claim 19 , wherein the one or more second polymers is selected from a 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.

21. A synthetic polymer as recited in claim 1 , selected from a 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).