Synthesis, characterization and properties of a novel unsaturated polyphosphoester

A new biodegradable and biocompatible unsaturated polyphosphoester bearing quaternary ammonium pendent groups was synthesized and characterized by H-1 NMR, FTIR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and elemental analysis. Physical properties of the synthesized polymers were also characterized by means of thermal analysis, in vitro degradation and swelling behavior. The experimental evidence demonstrated that the introduction of quaternary ammonium pendent groups reduced the melting point and the decomposition temperature of polyphosphoester. The experiments of in vitro degradation and swelling behavior revealed that the more polyphosphoester in the polymer tablets, the faster degradation rates and the higher swelling ratio.