Versatility of potential biomedical use of functional polysuccinates

Polysuccinates with pendant allyl groups (PSAGE) were synthesized by melt copolymerization of succinic anhydride with allyl glycidyl ether and eventually other glycidyl ethers. It was found that PSAGE could be crosslinked by radical copolymerization with methyl methacrylate. Oxidized PSAGE considered as multifunctional epoxy resin was cured with use of glutaric anhydride to form solid material susceptible to hydrolytic degradation to water‐soluble non‐toxic products. Comb‐like amphiphilic polysuccinates containing both pendant poly(oxyethylene) chains and epoxy groups have been synthesized as well and checked for their solubility in water. Properties of PSAGE‐type polymers suggests their potential use as biomaterials and polymeric drug carries. Please note, in the print publication of D. Theis, T. Schmidt, K.‐F. Arndt, Macromol. Symp. 210 (2004), 465, erroneously the DOI 10.1002/masy.200450651 is repeated. There, the DOI should read: 10.1002/masy.200450652