Degradable Heterobifunctional Poly(ethylene glycol) Acrylates and Gels and Conjugates Derived Therefrom

Abstract

A heterobifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) is provided having a hydrolytically degradable linkage, a first terminus comprising an acrylate group, and a second terminus comprising a target such as a protein or pharmaceutical agent or a reactive moiety capable of coupling to a target. Hydrogels can be prepared. The hydrogels can be used as a carrier for a protein or a pharmaceutical agent that can be readily released in a controlled fashion.

1 . A compound represented by the formula:  
         CH 2 ═CZ-CO 2 —POLY-W—POLY′-Q  
       where 
 Z represents H or alkyl;  
 POLY and POLY′ are poly(alkylene oxide) groups that can be the same or different and are represented by the formula —(CH 2 CHRO) n —CH 2 CHR— in which R is H or alkyl, and n ranges from about 10 to about 4000;  
 Q represents a functional group; and  
 W represents a hydrolytically unstable linkage.  
 
     
     
         2 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein POLY and POLY′ are poly(ethylene glycol).  
     
     
         3 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein W comprises a hydrolyzable covalent bond selected from the group consisting of esters, orthoesters, imines, acetals, peptide bonds, and disulfides.  
     
     
         4 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, carboxylic acids, active esters, active carbonates, sulfonate esters, amines, hydrazides, orthopyridyl disulfides, and thiols.