abstract |
A method of preparing a polymeric material includes combining a glycerol-pharmaceutical conjugate, glycerol, and water in a vessel. The glycerol-pharmaceutical conjugate includes a pharmaceutical compound, for example, salicylic acid, having at least one carboxyl group attached to glycerol by an ester bond. The method also includes adding sebacic acid to the vessel and removing water from the vessel and reacting the glycerol, glycerol-pharmaceutical conjugate, and sebacic acid in the vessel at atmospheric pressure in the presence of an inert gas. The method further includes applying a sub-atmospheric pressure to the vessel after the step of reacting, to form the polymeric material in the vessel. The polymeric material includes a polyester copolymer of the sebacic acid and the glycerol and the pharmaceutical compound. |