The present invention relates to novel biodegradable materials based on
modified polyamino acids that are useful in particular in the
vectorization of active principle(s) (APs). The invention is also
directed to novel pharmaceutical, cosmetic, health-food or
plant-protection compositions based on these polyamino acids.
The aim of the invention is to provide a novel polymeric starting material
which can be used for AP vectorization and which satisfy all the
requirements: biocompatibility, biodegradability, ability to easily
associate with or dissolve numerous active principles and to release
these active principles in vivo. This goal is achieved by the present
invention, which relates to novel polyglutamates modified by cationic
groups, which, if they can be deprotonated, exhibit a pKa equal to or
greater than 7, and by hydrophobic groups comprising from 8 to 30 carbon
atoms.
These polyglutamates modified by cationic groups are easily and
economically converted into particles for the vectorization of active
principles, these particles being themselves capable of forming stable
aqueous colloidal suspensions. These modified polyglutamates exhibit the
advantage of being less viscous than other analogous polymers while
retaining an ability to associate proteins, such as insulin. Some are
soluble in water at acidic pH and become insoluble at physiological pH
(7.4) and should thus, during subcutaneous injection, precipitate on the
site of injection.