Study of resorbable polymers: the effect of degradation and erosion on dye release

Abstract

During the recent years, increasing efforts have been devoted to the development of biodegradable polymers for pharmaceutical application. In this pursuit, Prof. Joachim Kohn and co-workers at the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, have developed a proprietary combinatorial polymer library of biocompatible, biodegradable tyrosine-derived copolymers comprising polycarbonates, polyarylates, and polyethers. These polymers are able to degrade with concomitant erosion and drug release and, therefore, represent a new and promising drug delivery platform. Here we propose the systematic investigation of the mechanisms and kinetics of degradation and erosion of a resorbable tyrosine-derived polycarbonate terpolymer (E2005(1k)) and its impact on the dye release from compression molded thin films. Polymeric films will be characterized in terms of several physical and physicochemical properties e.g. water uptake, chemical kinetics of degradation reactions of the polymer backbone, physical erosion, mechanical properties and kinetics of dye release. The development of this proposal may validate a new bioerodible drug delivery platform for controlled drug release. Furthermore, the internship at Rutgers University may bring substantial contribution to the scientific and personal formation of the student and initiates a fruitful collaboration with Prof. Kohn's group. (AU)