Oligo(thioether‐ester)s Blocks in Polyurethanes for Slowly Releasing Active Payloads

Abstract

AbstractThe preparation of acid‐responsive degradable oligomers with active agents in their main chains is described. Dichlorophene (DCP), an effective anticestodal agent, and the corrosion inhibitor 4‐(2‐pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) are reacted to form polymerizable bisacrylate derivatives. The derivatives are then copolymerized with aliphatic and aromatic dithiols by thiol‐Michael addition to obtain a polymer backbone with cleavable thiopropionate groups. Low molecular weight (M n < 10 000 g mol−1) linear oligomers are obtained, which can be used for the preparation of poly(ester‐urethane)s. Polymer nanoparticles from both oligo(thioether‐ester) and poly(ester‐urethane)s are fabricated by the miniemulsion‐solvent evaporation method. The polymers in solution and dispersion can be gradually degraded in acidic media. The degraded products of the degradation of PAR containing polymers can be detected in the presence of copper ions.