WSQ Technology

Revolutionary Chemical Properties

Technology

Phosphazenes operate at the interface of organic (living) and inorganic (non-living) chemistry.

WSQ’s creates polyphosphazene products with properties not previously attainable. These materials have the capacity to bioerode for tissue and bone regeneration, sustain controlled release of drugs and vaccines, speed communications with non-linear optical devices, and produce o-rings that do not freeze when exposed to liquid oxygen.

Phosphazenes are molecules containing alternating phosphorous and nitrogen atoms. They can be joined together to make long chains or rings called polymers, some containing thousands of repeating segments linked end-to-end. The polymer backbone (dichloropolymer) can be designed according to the physical requirements of the application. For example, linear high-molecular weight chains, block copolymers, organic-inorganic polymers, star, micelle and numerous other architectures are used for non- linear optics, controlled-drug delivery, biostability/degradation, high-performance elastomers and electronically conductive polymers.

Several examples are illustrated below.

Hydrophilic/hydrophobic combination Comb structure

High molecular-weight linear chain

Organic – Inorganic Block Copolymer

The vast majority of commercially available polymers are made of an organic carbon-based backbone. Polyphosphazenes differ in that the backbone is inorganic, and, thus, they have different properties than carbon-based materials. Polyphosphazenes have been synthesized with biological utility, optical behavior, selective permeability, ion and proton conductivity, and various other physical and chemical characteristics.

Chlorine substituted by “R” groups selected for their functionality

With the backbone structure intact, White Square Chemical, Inc. selectively substitutes chlorine atoms with functionalized side groups to create polyphosphazenes. For example, fluorinated side groups impart high solvent resistance, various carboxy-acid terminal groups bring biological utility, etc. The process is illustrated above.