Synthesis, Properties, and Biological Activity of Poly[di(sodium carboxylatoethylphenoxy)phosphazene]

A new water-soluble polyphosphazene polyelectrolyte containing carboxylate functionalities, poly[di(sodium carboxylatoethylphenoxy)phosphazene] (PCEP) was synthesized via reaction of macromolecular substitution. The polymer was characterized using 1H, 31P NMR, and gel permeation chromatography with multiangle laser light scattering detection. PCEP was shown to undergo hydrolytic degradation in aqueous solutions, as indicated by the decrease in the molecular weight and the release of side groups. A series of incompletely substituted copolymers of PCEP containing varying amounts of residual chlorine atoms was also prepared. The rate of degradation for such copolymers increased with the rise in the content of chlorine atoms. In vivo studies demonstrated high potency of PCEP as a vaccine immunoadjuvant. The new polyphosphazene was also shown to be capable of forming microspheres in aqueous solutions via reactions of ionic complexation with physiologically occurring amines, such as spermine.