Polymerizable monomer

EP4673451A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-01-07UNIV LINZ
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2024715705
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-03-01
Filing Date
2024-02-26
Publication Date
2026-01-07

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Current biodegradable polymers lack controllable and definable degradation properties under mild conditions, which is essential for applications such as drug and gene delivery, where precise degradation is crucial for effective delivery and release of bioactive materials.

Method used

Development of amino acid phosphoramidate monomers that crosslink through polymerizable groups of amino acids rather than a phosphorus-nitrogen backbone, allowing for controlled degradation by releasing an NH bond with water, with the choice of amino acid residues influencing degradation rates.

Benefits of technology

The polymers exhibit controlled and tunable degradation rates, enabling predictable mechanical property loss and bioactive release, suitable for biomedical applications like 3D printing and drug delivery, with potential as degradable biological scaffolds.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a polymerizable monomer which possesses exactly one phosphorus atom, where the phosphorus atom bears an oxygen atom with double bond, and where the phosphorus atom bears, bonded thereto respectively via an NH group, two or three identical amino acids, where, in the case of two identical amino acids, the remaining bonding site of the phosphorus atom bears a bonded radical R1, with each amino acid bearing, adjacent to the NH group, an amino acid radical R2, and with the hydroxyl group of the carboxyl group of the amino acid being replaced by X-R3, where R3 is a further radical and where X is selected from OH, NH, S and CH2, and where at least the amino acid radical R2 or the radical R3 comprises a polymerizable group.
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Description

[0001] Polymerizable monomer

[0002] The invention relates to amino acid phosphoramidate monomers for the formation of degradable polymers.

[0003] To differentiate it from the prior art, it should be emphasized that the amino acid phosphoramidate monomer in question is, as the name suggests, a monomer and not a polyphosphazene. Polyphosphazenes are a class of hybrid inorganic-organic polymers whose backbone is formed from alternating phosphorus and nitrogen atoms with alternating single and double bonds. A polyphosphazene thus has an inorganic backbone, with degradation occurring through decomposition of the backbone.

[0004] US20090004741A1 relates to biodegradable polymer compositions containing both phosphoester bonds in the polymer backbone and pendant groups attached to the backbone via a P-N bond. The polymers are useful for drug and gene delivery, particularly as carriers for gene therapy and for protein drug delivery. The backbone, or backbone, of these polymers is formed by phosphoesters.

[0005] The present invention does not involve polyphosphazenes, but rather phosphoramidate monomers, with two or three amino acids bonded to the phosphorus atom, each amino acid having a polymerizable group. Crosslinking of these monomers does not occur via the phosphorus atom to form polyphosphazene, but rather via crosslinking via the polymerizable groups of the amino acids. The polymer obtained from crosslinking the present monomers therefore does not have a backbone of alternating phosphorus and nitrogen atoms with alternating single and double bonds, nor does it have a backbone of phosphoesters.

[0006] In the present monomer, the amino acids are bonded to the phosphorus atom via an NH group.

[0007] Degradation of a polymer made from crosslinked monomers according to the invention occurs through the breaking of this NH bond by water. Degradation through decomposition of a polyphosphazene backbone, however, is not possible, since such a backbone is not present.

[0008] The object of the invention can be seen in providing a monomer which can be crosslinked to form a polymer which can be degraded under mild conditions with controllable or definable degradation properties.

[0009] To achieve the object, a monomer according to claim 1 is proposed. In one embodiment, a monomer is proposed which has exactly one phosphorus atom, two or three identical amino acids being bonded to the phosphorus atom via an NH group, each amino acid having an amino acid residue R2 adjacent to the NH group and the hydroxyl group (-OH) of the carboxy group (-COOH) being replaced by X-R3, where X is selected from O, NH, S, and CH2 and at least the amino acid residue R2 or the residue R3 comprises a polymerizable group.

[0010] The amino acids are preferably natural amino acids, so that the amino acid residue R2 is determined by the choice of the natural amino acid. However, the amino acid residue R2 can also be the residue of a synthesized unnatural amino acid. However, the amino acid residue R2 can also be the residue of an amino acid derivative.

[0011] Since the amino acid residue R2 is located adjacent to the NH bond of the amino acid on the phosphorus atom, it has a significant influence on the solubility of the NH bond by water.

[0012] If R2 is a large group, water molecules are more strongly prevented from reaching the NH bond than if R2 is a small group.

[0013] If R2 is a hydrophobic group, water molecules are more strongly prevented from reaching the NH bond than if R2 is a hydrophilic group.

[0014] Thus, the degradation rate of the monomer and a polymer based on the monomers can be influenced by the choice of the amino acid residue R2.

[0015] Since the above relationship between the properties of R2 and the degradation rate was investigated within the scope of the present invention, an expected degradation behavior can be estimated when choosing a suitable amino acid residue R2.

[0016] As already mentioned, two or three identical amino acids can be present at the phosphorus atom.

[0017] A first variant thus consists in the presence of two identical amino acids. The monomer is therefore an amino-acid phosphorodiamidate (APcLA).

[0018] A second variant thus consists in the presence of three identical amino acids. The monomer is therefore an amino-acid phosphorotriamidate (APtA), although it can also be referred to as amino-acid phosphoramide.

[0019] In both variants, an oxygen atom with a double bond is present at the phosphorus atom. Therefore, in the second variant, all bonding sites of the phosphorus atom are occupied by the three identical amino acids and the oxygen double bond.

[0020] In the first embodiment, another RI residue is bonded to the remaining free bonding site of the phosphorus atom. The RI residue can be attached to the phosphorus atom via an O, NH, or S bond. The RI residue can be freely selected. RI can be polymerizable or not. RI can influence the degradation rate or not.

[0021] RI is determined in particular by the choice of phosphate used to synthesize the monomer in question. It is preferably a dichlorophosphate, which, in addition to the oxygen double bond, has two chlorine single bonds and the residue RI at the remaining bond site. For example, ethyl dichlorophosphate can be used. During the synthesis, the amino acids replace the chlorine atoms, and the residue RI remains on the phosphorus atom.

[0022] In one embodiment, the monomer according to the invention has a structure according to the structural formula where X is preferably O, NH or S and Z is O, NH or S, where R2 or R3 is a polymerizable group and where RI is any radical.

[0023] In one embodiment, the monomer according to the invention has a structure according to the structural formula where X is preferably O, NH or CH2, where R2 or R3 is a polymerizable group. R2 is preferably the side chain of alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine.

[0024] Preferably, the residue R3 is bound to the hydroxy group of the amino acid via an ester bond (X stands for 0).

[0025] When using an amino acid derivative, an amide bond (X stands for NH ) or thioester bond (X stands for S ) may be present instead of the ester bond.

[0026] The radical R2 or the radical R3 is polymerizable and serves to crosslink identical monomers according to the invention to form a polymer. Crosslinking can be achieved by photopolymerization.

[0027] In one embodiment, only the residue R2 is polymerizable.

[0028] In one embodiment, only the residue R3 is polymerizable.

[0029] In one embodiment, the residue R2 and the residue R3 are polymerizable.

[0030] The crosslinking of the polymerizable residues of several monomers can occur directly with one another. This means that the polymerizable residue of a first monomer is bonded to the identical polymerizable residue of an identical second monomer. The polymer can also be a copolymer in which the respective monomers are polymerized in the presence of at least one second type of monomer.

[0031] For the polymerization, a thiol compound which has at least two thiol groups can be used as the second type of monomer.

[0032] The thiol compound preferably has three thiol groups.

[0033] Trimethylolpropane tris (3-mercaptopropionate) is a suitable thiol compound.

[0034] Polymerization via a thiol-ene addition enables the covalent bonding of different molecules with a thiol group.

[0035] A preferred use of the polymerizable monomers is that they are present in the non-polymerized state as a liquid in a device for 3D printing, in particular a device for photopolymerization 3D printing or for multi-photon lithography, and are cured to form a 3D structure or a 3D object.

[0036] Photopolymerization 3D printing technology is well-known and encompasses various processes based on the same basic strategy: A liquid photopolymer in a container (or tank) is selectively cured by a light source. Layer by layer, a physical 3D object is created until it is finished.

[0037] In addition to the oldest technology, based on lasers, there are several types of curing devices. Projectors with digital light processing and even LCD screens are a popular method for photopolymerizing materials due to their low cost and very high resolution.

[0038] The polymerizable monomers in question are suitable for this application.

[0039] The invention is illustrated by a manufacturing example and a drawing:

[0040] Fig. 1: Shows the reaction scheme for the preparation of an exemplary monomer according to the invention with two identical amino acids.

[0041] Fig. 2: Shows the reaction scheme for the degradation of an exemplary monomer according to the invention with two identical amino acids.

[0042] Fig. 3: Shows the reaction scheme for the preparation of an exemplary monomer according to the invention with three identical amino acids.

[0043] Fig. 4: Shows the reaction scheme for the degradation of an exemplary monomer according to the invention with three identical amino acids.

[0044] Fig. 5: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 1 with

[0045] Designation APdA-1.

[0046] Fig. 6: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 2 with

[0047] Designation APdA-2.

[0048] Fig. 7: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 3 with

[0049] Designation APdA-3.

[0050] Fig. 8: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 4 with

[0051] Designation APdA-4.

[0052] Fig. 9: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 5 with

[0053] Designation APdA-5.

[0054] Fig. 10: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 6 with

[0055] Designation APdA-6.

[0056] Fig. 11: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 7 with

[0057] Designation APdA-7.

[0058] Fig. 12: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 8 with

[0059] Designation APdA-8.

[0060] Fig. 13: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 9 with

[0061] Designation APtA-1.

[0062] Fig. 14: Shows the structural formula of the monomer of Example 10 with

[0063] Designation APtA-2. Fig. 15: Shows the structural formula of the reference monomer with designation

[0064] PDA.

[0065] Fig. 16: illustrates the degradation behavior of APdA-1, APdA-2 and PDA at pH 7.4.

[0066] Fig. 17: illustrates the degradation behavior of APdA-2 at pH 3.

[0067] Fig. 18: illustrates the degradation behavior of APdA-1, APdA-2 and PDA at pH 3.

[0068] Fig. 19: illustrates the degradation behavior of polymers based on APdA-1,

[0069] APdA-2 and PDA at pH 3 and pH 7.4.

[0070] To produce a specific monomer according to Fig. 1, a nucleophilic substitution of a dichlorophosphate, for example, ethyl dichlorophosphate, with two equivalents of an amino acid can be carried out, wherein the amino acid has an amino acid residue R2 and a further residue R3, wherein at least one of these residues R2 and R3 is polymerizable. For example, the amino acid alkynyl ester is suitable.

[0071] Production preferably takes place at a controlled temperature, for example at 50 °C.

[0072] Figure 2 illustrates the degradation of the monomer of Figure 1 by H2O. This degradation also occurs in the polymer, which is obtained by crosslinking a large number of the monomers.

[0073] To prepare an objective monomer according to Fig. 3, a nucleophilic substitution of phosphorus (V) oxybromide with three equivalents of an amino acid can be carried out, wherein the amino acid has an amino acid residue R2 and a further residue R3, wherein at least one of these residues R2 and R3 is polymerizable.

[0074] Production preferably takes place at a controlled temperature, for example at 35 °C.

[0075] Figure 4 illustrates the degradation of the monomer of Figure 3 by H2O. This degradation also occurs in the polymer, which is obtained by crosslinking a large number of the monomers.

[0076] The invention was tested by synthesizing specific monomers with the structural composition in question. Examples of the synthesis of these monomers are given in Examples 1-10.

[0077] Example 1 (designation: APdA-1, Fig. 5)

[0078] To prepare the substance APdA-1 shown in Fig. 5, the following procedure was used. Prop-2-yn-l-yl-L-alaninate hydrochloride (15.0 g, 91.7 mmol, 2.01 equiv.) was dispersed in 250 ml of acetonitrile, and Et3N (26.8 ml, 193 mmol, 4.2 equiv.) was added. The solution was then cooled to 0°C and

[0079] Ethyl dichlorophosphate (7.45 g, 45.7 mmol, 1.0 equiv) was added slowly under an argon atmosphere. After complete addition, the reaction mixture was stirred at 50°C for 14 h. Next, the precipitate was removed by filtration, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in EtOAc and washed twice with brine. Finally, the organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford the product as a viscous liquid (13.5 g, 86%).

[0080] 1H-NMR (300 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm) : 4.72-4.60 (m, 4H, CH2 ) , 3.97 (quint (J=7.2 Hz) , CH3-CH2-O) , 3.92 (s, 2H, NH) , 3.35 (q (J=9.4 Hz) , 2H, CH3-CH) , 2.48 (t (J=2.4 Hz) , 2H, CH) , 1.35 (dd (Jl=3.7 Hz, J2=2.8 Hz) , 4H, CH3) , 1.21 (t (J=7.1 Hz) , 3H, CH3-CH2-O) .

[0081] 13C-NMR (75 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 173.5, 77.2, 75.4. 61.5, 52.6, 49.6, 20.7, 16.2

[0082] 31P-NMR (121 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 11.1

[0083] ESI-MS: m / z 711.225 [2M+Na]+, 367.106 [M+Na]+, 345.125 [M+H] +

[0084] Example 2 (designation: APdA-2, Fig. 6)

[0085] The following procedure was used to prepare the substance APdA-2 shown in Fig. 6.

[0086] Prop-2-yn-l-ylglycinate hydrochloride (15.0 g, 100 mmol, 2.01 equiv.) was dispersed in 250 mL of tetrahydrofuran, and Et3N (29.3 mL, 211 mmol, 4.2 equiv.) was added. The solution was then cooled to 0°C and

[0087] Ethyl dichlorophosphate (8.15 g, 50.0 mmol, 1.0 equiv) was added slowly under an argon atmosphere. After complete addition, the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 14 h. Next, the precipitate was removed by filtration, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in EtOAc and washed twice with brine. Finally, the organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford the product as a viscous brown liquid (14.1 g, 89%). iH-NMR (300 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm) : 4.68 (d (J=2.5 Hz) , 4H, CH2-CH) , 4.00 (quint (J=7.2 Hz) , 2H, CH3-CH2-O) , 3.78-3.70 (m, 4H, CH2) , 3.52 (s, 2H NH) , 2.48 (t (J=2.5 Hz) , 1H, CH) , 1.23 (t (J=7.1 Hz) , 3H, CH3) .

[0088] 13 C NMR (75 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 171.8, 77.1, 75.5. 61.7, 52.5, 42.6, 16.2

[0089] 31 P-NMR (121 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 13.5

[0090] ESI-MS: m / z 655,158 [2M+Na]+, 339,075 [M+Na]+, 317,094 [M+H]+ Example 3 (designation: APdA-3, Fig. 7)

[0091] The following procedure was used to prepare the substance APdA-3 shown in Fig. 7.

[0092] Prop-2-en-l-ylglycinate hydrochloride (15.0 g, 98.7 mmol, 2.01 equiv.) was dispersed in 250 mL of tetrahydrofuran, and Et3N (28.7 mL, 207 mmol, 4.2 equiv.) was added. The solution was then cooled to 0°C and

[0093] Ethyl dichlorophosphate (8.0 g, 49.1 mmol, 1.0 equiv.) was added slowly under an argon atmosphere. After complete addition, the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 14 h. Next, the precipitate was removed by filtration and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in EtOAc and washed twice with brine. Finally, the organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain the product as a viscous yellow liquid (14.5 g, 92%). iH-NMR (300 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm): 5.90-5.77 (m, 2H, CH) , 5.30-5.17 (m, 4H, CH2) , 4.65 (dt, 4H, CH2) , 4.00 (q, 2H, CH2) , 3.40-3.30 (m, 2H NH) , 1.23 (t, 3H, CH3) .

[0094] 13 C NMR (75 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 171.4, 131.6, 118.7, 65.8, 61.7, 42.7, 16.4

[0095] 31P-NMR (121 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 13.8

[0096] Example 4 (designation: APdA-4, Fig. 8)

[0097] The following procedure was used to prepare the substance APdA-4 shown in Fig. 8.

[0098] Acetamide, 2-amino-N-2-propyn-l-yl (5.0 g, 44.7 mmol, 2.01 equiv) was dissolved in 100 mL of tetrahydrofuran, and Et3N (6.81 mL, 49.1 mmol, 2.2 equiv) was added. Then, the solution was cooled to 0°C, and ethyl dichlorophosphate (3.62 g, 22.2 mmol, 1.0 equiv) was added slowly under an argon atmosphere. After complete addition, the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 14 h. Next, the precipitate was removed by filtration, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in EtOAc and washed once with brine. Finally, the organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain the product as a viscous yellow-orange liquid (2.75 g, 40%). iH NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3.5 / ppm): 4.18-4.07 (m, 2H, CH2), 4.07-3.99 (m, 6H, CH2, NH (overlap)), 3.69-3.58 (m, 4H, CH2), 2.26 (t, 2H, CH), 1.29 (t, 3H, CH3).

[0099] 31P-NMR (121 MHz, CDCl3.5 / ppm): 15.2 Example 5 (designation: APdA-5, Fig. 9)

[0100] The following procedure was used to prepare the substance APdA-5 shown in Fig. 9.

[0101] 2-Oxo-2-(vinyloxy)ethylglycinate hydrochloride (10.0 g, 51.2 mmol, 2.01 equiv) was dispersed in 150 mL of tetrahydrofuran and cooled to -78°C. Next, Et3N (14.9 mL, 107 mmol, 4.2 equiv) was added slowly while maintaining the temperature at -78°C. Then, ethyl dichlorophosphate (4.15 g, 25.5 mmol, 1.0 equiv) was added under an argon atmosphere. After complete addition, the reaction mixture was stirred at -78°C for 10 h and then allowed to warm to room temperature overnight. Next, the precipitate was removed by filtration and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in EtOAc and washed twice with brine. Finally, the organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain the product as a viscous brownish liquid (8.1 g, 78%). iH NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, 5 ppm): 7.22-7.13 (m, 2H, CH), 4.90 (dd, Ji=13.9 Hz, J2=2.0 HZ) , 2H, CH2) 4.68 (s, 4H, CH2) , 4.61 (dd (Ji=6.2 Hz, J2=2.0 Hz) , 2H, CH2) , 4.00 (quint (J=7.2 Hz) , 2H, 3.88-3-76 (m, 4H, CH2) , 3.29 (s, 2H, NH) , 1.23 (t (J=7.1 Hz) , 3H, CH3) . sip-NMR (121 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm) : 13.1.

[0102] Example 6 (designation: APdA-6, Fig. 10)

[0103] The following procedure was used to prepare the substance APdA-6 shown in Fig. 10.

[0104] Prop-2-yn-l-ylglycylglycinate hydrochloride (5.15 g, 25 mmol, 2.03 equiv) was dispersed in 80 mL of dry THF, and Et3N (7.6 mL, 55 mmol, 4.46 equiv) was added. The mixture was cooled, and ethyl dichlorophosphate (2 g, 12.3 mmol, 1 equiv) was added dropwise. The reaction was then carried out at RT for 16 h. The precipitate was filtered off, and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was redissolved in DCM and washed with 10 wt% NH4Cl and saturated NaHCO3 solution. Finally, the organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain a yellowish viscous liquid (4.0 g, 76%). iH-NMR (300 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm): 7.94 (t (J=5.8 Hz) , 2H, NH) , 4.73 (d (J=2.5 Hz) , 4H, CH2) , 4.41 (q (J=5.0 Hz) , 2H CH3CH2) , 4.10-3.90 (m, 4H, CH2) 4.10-3.90 (m, 2H, NH) , 3.70-3.54 (m, 4H, CH2) , 2.49 (t (J=2.5 Hz) , 2H, CH) , 1.23 (t (J=7.1 Hz) , 3H, CH3) .

[0105] 31P-NMR (121 MHz, CDCl3.5 / ppm): 15.3 Example 7 (designation: APdA-7, Fig. 11)

[0106] To prepare APdA-7, APdA-3 (2.0 g, 6.2 mmol, 1 equiv.) described in Fig. 7 was dissolved in 25 mL of dry chloroform, and the photoinitiator TPO-L (30 mg, 1.5 wt%) was added. The solution was then purged with argon, and then mercaptoethanol (0.91 mL, 13 mmol, 2.07 equiv.) was added. The solution was then reacted at 4-5 °C in a photochemical reactor at 365 nm for 12 h. Next, the solvent was evaporated, and the residue was extracted four times with ether to remove traces of mercaptoethanol. Finally, the product was dried on a rotary evaporator to yield a thick, viscous liquid (2.7 g, 91%).

[0107] !H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCla, 5 / ppm) : 4.33-4.21 (m, 4H, CH2) , 4.07 (quint (J=7.3 Hz) , 3H, CH3CH2) , 3.74 (t (J=6.1 Hz) , 4H, CH2) 3.74 (s (overlapped by t 3.74) 4H, CH2) , 3.42 (s, 2H, NH) , 3.26 (s, 2H, OH) , 2.72 (t (J=6.1 Hz) , 4H, CH2) , 2.64 (t (J=7.2 Hz) , 4H CH2) , 1.96 (quint (J=6.7 Hz) , 4H, CH2) , 1.31 (t (J=7.0 Hz) , 3H, CH2CH3) .

[0108] 31 P-NMR (121 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm): 13.9

[0109] Example 8 (designation: APdA-8, Fig. 12)

[0110] The following procedure was used to prepare the substance APdA-8 shown in Fig. 12.

[0111] Serine ethyl ester HCl (1 equiv.) was neutralized with Et3N (1 equiv.) and filtered under reduced pressure using THF. For the next step, 40 mL of THF was cooled to -78°C.

[0112] Ethyl dichlorophosphate (0.41 g, 2.5 mmol, 1 equiv.) and Et3N (0.71 mL, 5.1 mmol, 2 equiv.) were added under an argon atmosphere. Then, serine ethyl ester (0.83 g, 6.25 mmol, 2.5 equiv.) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 14 h while slowly warming to room temperature. The precipitate was filtered, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The product was purified by column chromatography with EtOAc to give a slightly yellowish viscous liquid (yield: 0.69 g, 78%).

[0113] 1 H-NMR (300 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm): 1.25 (bm, 9H) , 3.9 (m 2H) , 4.04 (m, 2H) , 4.2 (m, 6H) sip-NMR: (121 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm) : 6.0

[0114] Example 9 (designation: APtA-1, Fig. 13)

[0115] The following procedure was used to prepare the substance APtA-1 shown in Fig. 13.

[0116] Prop-2-yn-l-ylglycinate (11.0 g, 73.7 mmol, 3.02 equiv) was dispersed in 200 mL of acetonitrile, and Et3N (21.5 mL, 155 mmol, 6.3 equiv) was added. The mixture was then cooled to 0°C, and a solution of phosphorus(V) oxybromide (7.0 g, 24.4 mmol, 1.0 equiv) in 15 mL of acetonitrile was slowly added under an argon atmosphere. After the addition was complete, the reaction mixture was stirred at 35°C for 14 h. Next, the precipitate was removed by filtration, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in EtOAc and washed twice with brine. Finally, the organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain the product as a dark brown, highly viscous liquid (8.6 g, 92%). iH NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3.5 / ppm): 4.73 (d (J=2.4 Hz), 6H, CH2), 3.90-3.77 (m, 6H, CH2), 2.51 (t (J=2.4 Hz), 3H, CH)

[0117] 31P-NMR (121 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 15.3

[0118] U C NMR (75 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 171.8, 76.7, 75.6, 52.7, 42.6

[0119] Polymerization example for Example 9

[0120] Using APtA-1, the following representative procedure for preparing a hydrogel is described:

[0121] APtA-1 (278 mg, 0.73 mmol, 1 equiv.) was treated with a hydrophilic, water-soluble PEG-PPG dithiol comonomer (MW 918 g mol -1 ) (2.0 g, 2.17 mmol, 3 equiv.) and Li-TPO-L (34.7 mg, 1.5 wt%) were weighed. The mixture was dissolved in 1.5 ml of deionized water and then cured at 365 nm overnight to obtain an insoluble hydrogel.

[0122] The production is therefore carried out according to the following scheme:

[0123] Example 10 (designation: APtA-2, Fig. 14)

[0124] The following procedure was used to prepare the substance APtA-2 shown in Fig. 14.

[0125] The APtA 1 (2.5 g, 6.5 mmol, 1 equiv.) described for Fig. 13 was dissolved in 30 mL of a chloroform / ethanol (1:1) mixture, and the photoinitiator TPO-L (38 mg, 1.5 wt%) was added. The solution was then purged with argon, and then mercaptoethanol (2.8 mL, 40 mmol, 6.1 equiv.) was added. The solution was then reacted at 4-5 °C in a photochemical reactor at 365 nm for 12 h. Next, the solvent was evaporated, and the residue was extracted four times with ether to remove traces of mercaptoethanol. Finally, the product was dried on a rotary evaporator to give a thick, viscous liquid (5.0 g, 90%). iH-NMR (300 MHz, D2O, 5 / ppm) : 4.47-4.25 (m, 6H, CH2) , 3.83-3.62 (m, 18H, CH2) , 3.21 (quint (J=5.9 Hz) , 3H, CH) , 2.92-2.65 (m, 18H, CH2) .

[0126] 31 P-NMR (121 MHz, DMSOdg, 5 / ppm): 15.6

[0127] Comparative example PDA (designation: PDA, non-inventive monomer, Fig. 15)

[0128] As a reference monomer, a phosphorodiamidate (PDA) equivalent to APdA-1 and APdA-2 was used, which is present without amino acid but has two propargylamines directly bound to the phosphorus atom.

[0129] Propargylamine (8.45 mL, 132 mmol, 2.15 equiv) was dissolved in 100 mL of dry THE, and Et3N (20.1 mL, 145 mmol, 2.4 equiv) was added. Then, the solution was cooled to 0 °C, and ethyl dichlorophosphate (10.0 g, 61.4 mmol, 1.0 equiv) was added slowly under an argon atmosphere. After complete addition, the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 14 h. The precipitate was removed by filtration, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in EtOAc and washed twice with brine. Finally, the organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure to afford the product as a soft brown solid (11.2 g, 56.0 mmol, 92%). iH-NMR (300 MHz, CDC13, 5 / ppm) : 4.07 (quint (J=5.8 Hz) , 2H, CH3-CH2-O) , 3.76- 3.69 (m, 2H, CH2) , 3.03 (s, 2H, NH) , 2.24 (t (J=2.5 Hz) , 2H, CH) , 1.31 (t (J=7.1 Hz) , 3H, CH3) .

[0130] 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 81.8, 71.1, 61.5, 30.5, 16.2

[0131] 31 P-NMR (121 MHz, CDC13.5 / ppm): 13.7

[0132] ESI-MS: m / z 423,136 [2M+Na]+, 223,062 [M+Na]+, 201,079 [M+H]+

[0133] Experiments on the invention using the exemplary monomers APdA-1, APdA-2 and the comparison monomer PDA

[0134] For the experimental description of the invention, amino acid-based phosphorodiamidate (APcLA) monomers with alkynyl units were designed for subsequent thiol-yne photopolymerization. The good leaving group character of the amino acid should increase the hydrolysis propensity, with the α-substituent offering an approach to tune the hydrolysis rates through steric hindrance of H2O. The alkyne-functionalized monomers (APdA-1 and APdA-2) were prepared by simple nucleophilic substitution of ethyl dichlorophosphate with two equivalents of the corresponding amino acid alkynyl ester (see description of Figs. 5 and 6). For comparison, the alkynylphosphorodiamidate monomer PdA without amino acid spacers was also prepared by direct substitution of POC12OEt with propargylamine (see description of Fig. 15).As mentioned in the examples above, the chemical structures and purity of the monomers were confirmed by 1H, 13C, 31P NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

[0135] Degradation of the monomers

[0136] The degradation of APdA-1, APdA-2, and PDA was monitored at pH 7.4 at 37 °C. 30 mg of each monomer was dissolved in 0.9 ml of buffer solution (pH 7.4: IM HEPES, pH 3.0: IM citric acid) and 0.1 ml D2O and transferred to NMR tubes. The samples were then incubated at 37 °C and 31 P-NMR was recorded regularly. The degree of degradation was then calculated from the ratio of the monomer signal to the degradation signal.

[0137] In Fig. 16, the degradation of the three monomers at a pH of 7.4 is shown by the change in the phosphate content in 31P NMR spectroscopy. The key findings are that PDA is not degraded and that APdA-2 degradation occurs faster than APdA-1.

[0138] This demonstrates that the monomers of the invention are degradable because, unlike PDA, they contain amino acids. This also shows that the degradation behavior can be influenced by the R2 residue, since APdA-1 and APdA-2 are identical except for this R2 residue.

[0139] For APdA-1, RI = Me and for APdA-2, RI = H. The methyl group of APdA-1 thus shows a shielding effect, which delays the release of the NH bond of the amino acid at the phosphorus atom.

[0140] For comparison, the above degradation experiment was also carried out at a pH of 3.0, where rapid degradation of PDA and APdA-2 and slower degradation of APdA-1 was observed.

[0141] As already briefly described above, the hydrolytic stability of the monomers was measured in D2O (1 M HEPES buffer, 37 °C) at pH 7.4 (Fig. 16). 31 The P NMR resonance signal for the PdA monomer containing no amino acid remained unchanged during the observed period of 229 days, indicating considerable hydrolysis resistance of this compound. Meanwhile, the amino acid-containing monomers showed clear hydrolysis by cleavage of the P-NH bonds to yield the phosphate peaks at 1.5 ppm. This is evident in Figure 17, which shows the degradation of APdA-2 at pH 3.0. The phosphorus signal of the monomer at 17 ppm decreases over time, while the new phosphate signal emerges at 1.5 ppm. After 23 days, the monomer was completely degraded to the corresponding phosphate products.

[0142] The phosphate and amino acid degradation products were also confirmed by MS spectrometry. Furthermore, the hydrolysis rate was observed to be faster for APdA-2 than for APdA-1 (Fig. 16), which is attributed to the shielding effect of the methyl-α substituent. Furthermore, hydrolysis at pH 3.0 (1M citric acid / DaO) was also investigated. At this pH, a significant acceleration of hydrolysis was observed for all monomers (Fig. 18). Several biomedical applications require polymer materials that degrade at lower pH, making this observed degradation an interesting property.

[0143] Representative process for thiol-ene / yne bulk polymerization of monomers

[0144] The monomers APdA-1, APdA-2 and PDA were subjected to photopolymerization at a stoichiometric ratio with the commonly used trithiol (1, 1, 1-tris-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-tris-(3-mercaptopropionate) (TMPMP).

[0145] The product obtained according to Example 1, designated APdA-1 (648 mg, 1.9 mmol), trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) (1.0 g, 2.5 mmol), and TPO-L (25.0 mg, 1.5 wt%) were mixed homogeneously. The mixture was then cured under UV light at 365 nm for 1 h, yielding a cross-linked resin.

[0146] The product obtained according to Example 2, designated APdA-2 (595 mg, 1.9 mmol), trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) (1.0 g, 2.5 mmol), and TPO-L (24.3 mg, 1.5 wt%) were mixed homogeneously. The mixture was then cured under UV light at 365 nm for 1 h, yielding a crosslinked resin.

[0147] The reference monomer PDA (377 mg, 1.9 mmol), trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) (TMPMP) (1.0 g, 2.5 mmol), and TPO-L (21 mg, 1.5 wt%) were mixed homogeneously. The mixture was then cured in a UV reactor at 365 nm for 1.5–2 h, yielding a cross-linked resin.

[0148] Monomer conversion (MC) was analyzed by RT-FTIR spectroscopy, where the reaction was monitored by a decrease in the alkyne band at 2130 cm-1. Additionally, the loss of thiol units (2570 cm-1) and the formation of vinyl sulfide groups (2095 cm-1) as intermediates can be detected. APdA-1 (Gly-APdA) and APdA-1 (Ala-APdA) show a slightly higher final MC than PdA. Photokinetics can be measured by photoDSC using 5 wt% TPO-L as the initiator. The three monomers all showed reasonable curing kinetics with tmax between 8.6 and 9.7 seconds. The bulk mechanical properties of the resulting polymers were analyzed and are presented in Table 1 below. The values ​​are comparable to similar thiol-yne-based polymers with TMPMP, but can be significantly improved by using alternative thiol comonomers, as expected.

[0149] Table 1. The photochemical properties and volume properties of the

[0150] Thiol-in- polymers

[0151] To demonstrate the applicability of the monomers for photopolymerization, samples were prepared for multiphotolithography (MPL). A 30 x 30 x 1.6 pim³ grating was fabricated using a lithography setup. The grating sidewalls consist of four partially overlapping excitation voxels (each ~0.5 m high), which are written on top of each other to improve stability. MPL was performed with an excitation power of 31 GW / cm² and a writing speed of 7 m / s (excitation wavelength: 515 nm fs-pulsed), with each voxel illuminated twice.

[0152] This experiment served to confirm that the monomers of the invention can be printed into polymerized three-dimensional structures using 3D printing.

[0153] Mass loss of the polymerized monomers

[0154] The degradation of the solid (polymer) obtained by polymerization of the monomers was investigated in mass loss studies. Cured sample discs were first soaked in EtOAc to extract any unreacted monomers and then dried to record the mo value. The sample discs were then placed in buffer solutions and incubated at 37 °C (sample unstirred). At regular intervals, the samples were removed, dried, and their weight recorded (triplicate). Mass degradation was calculated from these data.

[0155] Fig. 19 shows graphs of mass loss tests (triplicates) of solids at 37 °C in percent of the initial mass mo at pH 7.4 (a) and pH 3.0 (b). While the PDA-based polymer is stable at pH 7.4 and pH 3.0, the polymers based on APdA-1 and APdA-2 show a gradual, almost linear mass loss. For the samples containing APdA-1 (Ala-APdA) and APdA-2 (Gly-APdA), an almost linear decrease in mass and thus degradation of the sample was observed. The degradation of the solid material shows the same trend as the previously described monomer degradation in solution in the order with the alkyne phosphorodiamidate PDA < APdA-1 < APdA-2. In fact, the solid material derived from the monomer PDA, which does not contain amino acids, shows only very minimal degradation in the measured time frame and under the measured conditions.This observation suggests that the potentially hydrolyzable ester bonds of TMPMP, as well as the NH bond of PDA, are highly stable under these mild conditions in this polymer system. Interestingly, while the degradation of the pure monomers is greatly accelerated at pH 3.0, pH has little influence on the degradation process of the polymers. This observation indicates a very low diffusion rate of the solvent into the materials. The nearly linear nature of the degradation process, coupled with the near pH independence of the degradation rates, suggests a surface erosion mechanism for these polymer systems. Surface erosion, generally expressed as a linear mass loss over time, is a highly desirable but rarely achieved property for biodegradable materials intended for use as biomaterials.

[0156] Such behavior results in a more uniform and thus predictable loss of mechanical properties and a more uniform and thus predictable release of bioactive substances when the polymers are used for delivery purposes.

[0157] In summary, a new type of hydrolytically cleavable phosphoramidate monomers with amino acid linkages has been invented. It was determined that the amino acids are rapidly cleaved from the phosphate at pH 7.4, a process that is further accelerated at acidic pH. Photopolymerization can be performed in combination with known trifunctional thiols, and these have been demonstrated to be capable of 3D MPL writing. The cured polymers were observed to exhibit linear, pH-independent mass loss profiles, suggesting a surface erosion mechanism whose rate can be tuned by the choice of amino acid. This property, in combination with the good cytocompatibility of the materials and the endogenous nature of the main degradation products, makes these materials of great interest for future development as degradable biological scaffolds, among other applications.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Polymerizable monomer, characterized in that it has exactly one phosphorus atom, wherein an oxygen atom with a double bond is present on the phosphorus atom and wherein two or three identical amino acids are each bonded to the phosphorus atom via an NH group, wherein in the case of two identical amino acids a radical RI is bonded to the remaining bonding site of the phosphorus atom, wherein each amino acid has an amino acid radical R2 adjacent to the NH group and wherein the hydroxy group of the carboxy group of the amino acid is replaced by X-R3, wherein R3 is a further radical and wherein X is selected from O, NH, S, and CH2 and wherein at least the amino acid radical R2 or the radical R3 comprises a polymerizable group. 2 . Polymerizable monomer according to claim 1 , characterized in that it has the structural formula wherein X preferably represents O, NH or S and Z represents O, NH or S. 3 . Polymerizable monomer according to claim 1 , characterized in that it has the structural formula where X preferably represents O, NH or CH2.

4. Polymerizable monomer according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that R2 is the side chain of alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine or valine.

5. Polymerizable monomer according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that R2 is the side chain of a non-natural amino acid.

6. Polymerizable monomer according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that R3 comprises a polymerizable group.

7. A process for producing a polymer using polymerizable monomers according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the polymerizable monomers are crosslinked directly via their polymerizable groups.

8. A process for producing a polymer using polymerizable monomers according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said polymerizable monomers are polymerized to copolymers in the presence of at least one second type of monomer.

9. Use of polymerizable monomers according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that they are present in the non-polymerized state as a liquid in a device for 3D printing, in particular a device for photopolymerization 3D printing or for multi-photon lithography, and are cured to form a 3D structure or a 3D object.