Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Controlled Degradation Of Poly(Ester Amide)S Via Cyclization Of Pendant Functional Groups, Jose Samuel Mejia

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Polyesters have been used for many biomedical applications ranging from sutures to drug delivery vehicles. However, their bulk degradation results in an accumulation of acidic byproducts, which is detrimental to the human body. In order to circumvent this problem, as well as to impart new properties and functions to polymers for biomedical applications, poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) have been proposed as a different class of biodegradable polymers. However, up to date, there exists no way to stimulate the degradation of these polymers.

The Gillies research group has previously incorporated self-immolative spacers into polymers and has been able to stimulate their degradation …

Synthesis Of Self-Immolative Monomers And Their Applications In Polymeric Materials, Matthew A. Dewit

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Self-immolative spacers are a unique class of molecules employed in a variety of applications, particularly in the biomedical field. Most commonly, they are molecules containing two reactive termini with a capping group at one terminus and a substrate of interest at the other. Upon removal of the capping group, the spacer undergoes an intramolecular reaction that results in its removal from the molecule and liberation of the substrate. These spacers have been extensively studied in monomeric form within prodrugs, as well as to form dendrimers that have been used for applications such as signal amplification, molecular logic gates and amplified …