Fiber comprising a biodegradable polymer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fiber comprising a biodegradable polymer which undergoes dimensional change upon injection in the human or animal body wherein the dimensional change is a reduction of the surface area to volume ratio of a factor 2 to 10. The fiber is sized for injection via a pharmaceutical syringe needle having a bore of at least 25 Gauge. The biodegradable polymer is an amorphous biodegradable polymer selected from the group of poly-hex am ethylene carbonates or polyesteramides. The amorphous biodegradable polymer is a preferably a polyesteramide comprising alpha-amino acids, diols and dicarboxylic acids as building blocks. The invention further relates to the use of the fiber for the manufacturing of a medicament for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacturing of the fiber comprising the following process steps; a. extruding a biodegradable polymer into a fiber fitting in a needle of at least 25 Gauge b. which while under tension is cooled below its glass transition temperature such that the resultant fiber is amorphous.

1 . A fiber comprising a biodegradable polymer which undergoes dimensional change upon injection in the human or animal body wherein the dimensional change is a reduction of the surface area to volume ratio of a factor 1.05-10. 
     
     
         2 . A fiber according to  claim 1  wherein the dimensional change is a reduction of the surface area to volume ratio of a factor 1.25-5. 
     
     
         3 . A fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is sized for injection via a pharmaceutical syringe needle having a bore of at least 25 Gauge. 
     
     
         4 . A fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymer has a wet Tg below 37 C. 
     
     
         5 . A fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymer is an amorphous biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         6 . A fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the amorphous biodegradable polymer is a polyesteramide, comprising alpha-amino acids, diols and dicarboxylic acids as building blocks. 
     
     
         7 . A fiber according to  claim 6  wherein the polyesteramide is a polyesteramide of formula I 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         m is about 0.01 to about 0.99; p is about 0.99 to about 0.01; and q is about 0.99 to 0.01; and wherein n is about 5 to about 350; and wherein 
         R 1  is independently selected from the group consisting of (C 2 -C 20 )alkylene, (C 2 -C 20 )alkenylene, —(R 9 —CO—O—R 10 —O—CO—R 9 )—, —CHR 11 —O—CO—R 12 —COOCR 11 — and combinations thereof; 
         R 3  and R 4  in a single co-monomer m or p, respectively, are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         R 5  is selected from the group consisting of (C 2 -C 20 )alkylene, (C 2 -C 20 )alkenylene, alkyloxy or oligoethyleneglycol; 
         R 6  is a bicyclic-fragments of 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols 
         R 7  is hydrogen, (C 6 -C 10 ) aryl, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkyl or a protecting group; 
         R 8  is independently (C 1 -C 20 ) alkyl or (C 2 -C 20 )alkenyl; 
         R 9  or R 10  are independently selected from C 2 -C 12  alkylene or C 2 -C 12  alkenylene. 
         R 11  or R 12  are independently selected from H, methyl, C 2 -C 12  alkylene or C 2 -C 12  alkenylene. 
       
     
     
         8 . A fiber according to  claim 7  wherein m is about 0.3, p is about 0.45 and q is about 0.25 and wherein n is about 5-100 and
 R 1  is (CH 2 ) 8  or (CH 2 ) 4    
 R 3  and R 4  are selected from (CH 3 ) 2 —CH—CH 2 —; 
 R 5  is selected from (CH 2 ) 6 , 
 R 6  is 1,4:3,6-dianhydrosorbitol (DAS); 
 R 7  is a benzyl protecting group; 
 R 8  is (CH 2 ) 4          
 
     
     
         9 . A fiber according to  claim 1 , comprising at least a bioactive agent. 
     
     
         10 . A fiber according to  claim 1 , used as a drug eluting vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . Use of a fiber according to  claim 1 , for the manufacturing of a medicament for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases. 
     
     
         12 . Process for the manufacturing of a fiber according to  claim 1 , comprising the following process steps;
 a. extruding the biodegradable polymer into a fiber fitting in a syringe needle of at least 25 Gauge   b. which fiber while under tension, is cooled below its dry glass transition temperature.