Biomedical

The recent development of biodegradable polymers for drug delivery system (DDS) has been investigated. The biodegradable polymers for DDS are mainly discussed in two categories: one category is natural biodegradable polymers such as polysaccharides, modified celluloses, poly(α-amino acids)s, modified proteins, and microbial biodegradable polymers; the other is synthetic biodegradable polymers such as poly(ester)s, poly(ortho ester)s, poly(phosphazene)s, poly(anhydride)s, poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate)s, and multiblock copolymers.

The biocompatibility and bioresorption of 3-methoxybutylcyanoacrylate (MBCA) was evaluated in vivo using female Wistar albino rats. MBCA was found to elicit slight to moderate tissue reaction similar to isobutylcyanoacrylate (iBCA) which has been sold commercially as a surgical adhesive (Bucrylate®, Ethicon). MBCA was judged less reactive to tissue than ethylcyanoacrylate (ECA). The MBCA implants in rat gluteal muscles also resorbed within approx. 16 wk while iBCA implants remained essentially unchanged at 36 wk in vivo.

Bioabsorbable cyanoacrylate-based tissue adhesives containing bioabsorbable copolymers are disclosed. The copolymers are preferably derived from .epsilon.-caprolactone, lactide and glycolide monomers or from butyl 2-cyanoacrylate, glycolide, lactide, .epsilon.-caprolactone monomers. The adhesives are characterized by increased biodegradability, increased viscosity and increased flexibility. The adhesives are useful for wound and incision closure, and for medical devices, including implants.

For more than 100 years, orthopedic surgeons have been repairing serious bone fractures by binding the fractures with screws, pins, and other fixation-type devices. Early on, these devices were often made from common metals such as iron or steel. Later on, they were made of highly sophisticated metal alloys of titanium, zirconium, niobium, and tantalum. Still the search continued for materials that would be more compatible with the human body, and that search led researchers to consider bioabsorbable polymers.

This invention addresses absorbable cyanoacrylate-based tissue adhesive compositions based primarily on an alkoxy cyanoacrylate combined with one or more alkyl cyanoacrylate(s), a stabilizer against premature anionic polymerization, and/or an absorbable polymeric modifier with improved, and preferably, functional properties for use, primarily, for internal wound repair applications.

A brief historical review of four series of commercially available block polymer surface-active agents—the PLURONICR, TETRONICR, PLURADOTR, and PLURONICR R polyols—is presented. A comparison is made of the physical properties within each series, in the form of trend lines. These parameters encompass solubility, rate of solubility, wetting, foaming, defoaming, emulsification, thickening, cleansing, and toxicity.

Disclosed are cyanoacrylate compositions comprising a compatible antimicrobial agent and, in particular, a compatible iodine containing antimicrobial agent. These compositions provide for in situ formation of an antimicrobial polymeric cyanoacrylate film of mammalian skin.

This invention relates to stabilized adhesives, to which silyl esters are added for stabilization.

This invention relates to an improved for preparing a dry powdered adduct of iodine and polymeric 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (hereinafter called polyvinylpyrrolidone) whereby a stable composition is formed which is readily available and germicidally and bactericidally active form which is essentially non-toxic to warm-blooded animals.