The grafting of acrylamide onto poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) using electron beam preirradiation. II. An in vitro degradation study on grafted poly(ε‐caprolactone)

Acrylamide was graft polymerized onto the surface of a biodegradable semicrystalline polyester, poly(ε‐caprolactone). Electron beam irradiation at a dose of 5 Mrad was used to generate initiating species in the polyester. The degradation in vitro at pH 7.4 and 37°C in a phosphate buffer solution was studied for untreated, irradiated and acrylamide‐grafted polymers. In the case of poly(ε‐caprolactone), all materials showed similar behavior in terms of weight loss. No significant decrease in weight was observed up to 40 weeks, after which the loss of weight accelerated. The main differences in degradation behavior were found for the average molecular weights, M̄_n and M̄_w. Virgin poly(ε‐caprolactone) maintained M̄_n and M̄_w up to about 40 weeks, whereas the irradiated and grafted poly(ε‐caprolactone) showed similar continuous declines in M̄_n and M̄_w throughout the degradation period. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1651–1657, 1999     

The grafting of acrylamide onto poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) using electron beam preirradiation. I. Influence of dose and Mohr's salt for the grafting onto poly(ε‐caprolactone)

Poly(ε‐caprolactone) films (TONE® 787) were irradiated by electron beam in air prior to grafting in aqueous solutions of acrylamide. The grafting kinetics and molecular weight of the grafted poly(acrylamide) chains were studied with irradiation doses between 2.5 and 20 Mrad and in the Mohr's salt concentration range of 0.0025–1 wt %. The grafting rate and yield were strongly dependent on the Mohr's salt concentration. By molecular weight analysis of grafted poly(acrylamide) chains, it was shown that the molecular weight is approximately proportional to the mass of the grafted PAAm. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1643–1649, 1999     

Morphology engineering of a novel poly(L‐lactide)/poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) microsphere system for controlled drug delivery

Morphology is presented as a powerful tool to control the in vitro degradation and drug release characteristics of novel drug delivery microspheres prepared from homopolymer blends of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one, DXO, and L ‐lactide, L‐LA. Their performance in this respect was compared to analogous P(L‐LA‐co‐DXO) microspheres. Blends formed denser and less porous microspheres with a higher degree of matrix crystallinity than copolymers of corresponding L‐LA:DXO composition. The morphology differences of blends and copolymers, further adjustable by means of component ratio, are shown to have a vital impact on the in vitro performance. Sustained drug delivery was obtained from both copolymers and blends. Molecular weight loss was retarded and diffusion‐mediated release was inhibited in the latter case, further delaying the release process. The effects of storage on the physicochemical properties of these systems were evaluated under desiccated and moist conditions for 5 months. Storage‐induced physicochemical changes, such as matrix crystallization and molecular weight decrease, were accelerated at higher relative humidities. P(L‐LA‐co‐DXO) demonstrated higher moisture sensitivity than a PLLA‐PDXO blend of corresponding composition. The more crystalline and dense morphology of blend microspheres may thus be considered an improvement of the storage stability. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 786–796, 2000     

Star‐shaped and photocrosslinked poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one): Synthesis and characterization

New star‐shaped and photocrosslinked poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) (PDXO) has been synthesized through ring‐opening polymerization initiated by SnOct₂/pentaerythritol. The star‐shaped PDXO was end‐functionalized by acrolyol chloride to form acrylate end groups. The end‐functionalized PDXO was photocrosslinked initiated by 2,2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone. The gel content ranged from 80 to 99%, indicating a high degree of crosslinking. The thermal properties of the star‐shaped PDXO and the photocrosslinked PDXO were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. The glass‐transition temperature was determined to approximately ?32 °C for the crosslinked PDXO. The viscosity numbers were determined for star‐shaped PDXO, with reference to linear homologues. The star‐shaped PDXO had lower viscosity numbers than the linear counterparts. The crosslinked PDXO showed a rather hydrophilic surface as compared with other resorbable polyesters. The advancing contact angle was 64 ± 2, and the receding angle was 57 ± 4. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2049–2054, 2002     

Silica/Poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) Hybrid Nanoparticles by “Direct” Surface‐Initiated Polymerization

Summary: Biodegradable poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) (PDXO) was grown directly from Si OH groups of a silica nanoparticle by surface‐initiated, ring‐opening polymerization (SI‐ROP) of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one (DXO). The direct SI‐ROP of DXO was achieved by heating a mixture of Sn(Oct)₂, DXO, and the silica nanoparticles (316 nm in diameter) in anhydrous toluene. The resulting silica/PDXO hybrid nanoparticles were characterized by means of ¹H NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy.

The procedure for the surface‐initiated, ring‐opening polymerization of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one on silica nanoparticles reported here.     

Spontaneous crosslinking of poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) originating from ether bond fragmentation

The spontaneous reaction of unsaturated double bonds induced by the fragmentation of ether bonds is presented as a method to obtain a crosslinked polymer material. Poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) (PDXO) was synthesized using three different polymerization techniques to investigate the influence of the synthesis conditions on the ether bond fragmentation. It was found that thermal fragmentation of the ether bonds in the polymer main chain occurred when the synthesis temperature was 140 °C or higher. The double bonds produced reacted spontaneously to form crosslinks between the polymer chains. The formation of a network structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, the low molar mass species released during hydrolysis of the DXO polymers were monitored by ESI‐MS and MALDI‐TOF‐MS. Ether bond fragmentation also occurred during the ionization in the electrospray instrument, but predominantly in the lower mass region. No fragmentation took place during MALDI ionization, but it was possible to detect water‐soluble DXO oligomers with a molar mass up to approximately 5000 g/mol. The results show that ether bond fragmentation can be used to form a network structure of PDXO. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7258–7267, 2008     

High‐molecular‐weight poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) via enzyme‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization

To avoid organometallic catalysts in the synthesis of poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one), the enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one (DXO) was performed with lipase CA (derived from Candida antarctica) as a biocatalyst. A linear relationship between the number‐average molecular weight and monomer conversion was observed, and this suggested that the product molecular weight could be controlled by the stoichiometry of the reactants. The monomer consumption followed a first‐order rate law with respect to the monomer, and no chain termination occurred. Water acted as a chain initiator, but it could cause polymer hydrolysis when it exceeded an optimum level. An initial activation via the heating of the enzyme was sufficient to start the polymerization, as the monomer conversion occurred when samples were left at room temperature after an initial heating at 60 °C. A high lipase content led to a high monomer conversion as well as a high molecular weight. An increase in the monomer conversion and molecular weight was observed when the polymerization temperature was increased from 40 to 80 °C. A further increase in the polymerization temperature led to a decrease in the monomer conversion and molecular weight because of the denaturation of the enzyme at elevated temperatures. The polymerization behavior of DXO under lipase CA catalysis was compared with that of ε‐caprolactone (CL). The rate of monomer conversion of DXO was much faster than that of CL, and this may have been due to differences in their specificity toward lipase CA. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4206–4216, 2005     

The synthesis,characterization, and crystal structures of poly(2,6‐naphthalenebenzobisoxazole) and poly(1,5‐naphthalenebenzobisoxazole)

The rigid‐rod polymers, poly(2,6‐naphthalenebenzobisoxazole) (Naph‐2,6‐PBO) and poly(1,5‐naphthalenebenzobisoxazole) (Naph‐1,5‐PBO) were synthesized by high temperature polycondensation of isomeric naphthalene dicarboxylic acids with 4,6‐diaminoresorcinol dihydrochloride in polyphosphoric acid. Expectedly, these polymers were found to have high thermal as well as thermooxidative stabilities, similar to what has been reported for other polymers of this class. The chain conformations of Naph‐2,6‐PBO and Naph‐1,5‐PBO were trans and the crystal structures of Naph‐2,6‐PBO and Naph‐1,5‐PBO had the three‐dimensional order, although the axial disorder existed for both Naph‐2,6‐PBO and Naph‐1,5‐PBO. Naph‐2,6‐PBO exhibited a more pronounced axial disorder than Naph‐1,5‐PBO because of its more linear shape. The repeat unit distance for Naph‐2,6‐PBO (14.15 Å) was found to be larger compared with that of Naph‐1,5‐PBO (12.45 Å) because of the more kinked structure of the latter. The extents of staggering between the adjacent chains in the ac projection of the crystal structure were 0.25c and 0.23c for Naph‐2,6‐PBO and Naph‐1,5‐PBO, respectively. Naph‐1,5‐PBO has a more kinked and twisted chain structure relative to Naph‐2,6‐PBO. The kinked and twisted chain structure of Naph‐1,5‐PBO in the crystal seems to prevent slippage between adjacent chains in the crystal structure. The more perfect crystal structure of Naph‐1,5‐PBO may be due to this difficulty in the occurrence of the slippage. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1948–1957, 2006     

Controlled ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide and 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one forming a triblock copolymer

Novel elastomeric A‐B‐A triblock copolymers were successfully synthesized in a new two‐step process: controlled ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic ether–ester 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one as the amorphous middle block (B‐block) followed by addition and polymerization of the two semicrystalline L ‐lactide blocks (A‐block). A 1,1,6,6‐tetra‐n‐butyl‐1,6‐distanna‐2,5,7,10‐tetraoxacyclodecane initiator system was utilized and the reaction was performed in chloroform at 60 °C. A good control of the synthesis was obtained, resulting in well defined triblock copolymers. The molecular weight and chemical composition were easily adjusted by the monomer‐to‐initiator ratio. The triblock copolymers formed exhibited semicrystallinity up to a content of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one as high as 89% as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. WAXS investigation of the triblock copolymers showed a crystal structure similar to that of the pure poly(L ‐lactide). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1774–1784, 2000     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐graft‐[poly(D,L‐lactide)/poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide)] hydrogels

Poly(D ,L ‐lactide) and poly(D ,L ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) with various composition and with one methacrylate and one carboxylate end group were synthesized and grafted onto poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) via the carboxylate group. The graft copolymers were crosslinked via the methacrylate groups using a free radical initiator. The polymer networks were characterized by means of NMR and studied qualitatively by means of IR spectroscopy. The influence of the glycolide content in the polyester grafts and of the number of ester units in the grafts on thermal properties and swellability were studied as well. The high swellability in water is characteristic of all hydrogels. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed a single glass transition temperature that occurs in the range between 51 and 69 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the networks showed the main loss in weight in the temperature range between 290 and 370 °C. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4536–4544, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of novel degradable photocrosslinked poly(ether‐anhydride) networks

New degradable poly(ether‐anhydride) networks were synthesized by UV photopolymerization. Dicarboxylated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) was reacted with an excess of methacrylic anhydride to form dimethacrylated macromers containing anhydride linkages. The percent of conversion for the macromer formation was more than 80% at 60 °C after 24 h. ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopies show the presence of anhydride linkages in the macromer. In vitro degradation studies were carried out at 37 °C in PBS with crosslinked polymer networks formed by UV irradiation. All PEG‐based polymers degraded within 2 days, while PTMG‐based polymers degraded by 50% of the initial weight after 14 days. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1277–1282, 2000     

Fibrillar structure of resorbable microblock copolymers based on 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one and ε‐caprolactone

The copolymerization of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one (DXO) and ε‐caprolactone, initiated by a five‐membered cyclic tin alkoxide initiator, was performed in chloroform at 60 °C. Copolymers with different molar ratios of DXO (25, 40, and 60%) were synthesized and characterized. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy of the carbonyl region revealed the formation of copolymers with a blocklike structure. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that all the copolymers had a single glass transition between ?57 and ?49 °C and a melting temperature in the range of 30.1–47.7 °C, both of which were correlated with the amount of DXO. An increase in the amount of DXO led to an increase in the glass‐transition temperature and to a decrease in the melting temperature. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis measurements confirmed the results of the calorimetric analysis, showing a single sharp drop in the storage modulus in the temperature region corresponding to the glass transition. Tensile testing demonstrated good mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 27–39 MPa and an elongation at break of up to 1400%. The morphology of the copolymers was examined with polarized optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy; the films that crystallized from the melt showed a short fibrillar structure (with a length of 0.05–0.4 μm) in contrast to the untreated solution‐cast films. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2412–2423, 2003     

Synthesis of block and end‐functionalized polyesters by triflimide‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone, 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one,and rac‐lactide

The ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters, such as ε‐caprolactone, 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one, and racemic lactide using the combination of 3‐phenyl‐1‐propanol as the initiator and triflimide (HNTf₂) as the catalyst at room temperature with the [monomer]₀/[initiator]₀ ratio of 50/1 was investigated. The polymerizations homogeneously proceeded to afford poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) (PDXO), and polylactide (PLA) with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersity indices. The molecular weight determined from an ¹H NMR analysis (PCL, M_n,NMR = 5380; PDXO, M_n,NMR = 5820; PLA, M_n,NMR = 6490) showed good agreement with the calculated values. The ¹H NMR and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analyses strongly indicated that the obtained compounds were the desired polyesters. The kinetic measurements confirmed the controlled/living nature for the HNTf₂‐catalyzed ROP of cyclic esters. A series of functional alcohols, such as propargyl alcohol, 6‐azido‐1‐hexanol, N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)maleimide, 5‐hexen‐1‐ol, and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, successfully produced end‐functionalized polyesters. In addition, poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐polyester, poly(δ‐valerolactone)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone), and poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐polylactide were synthesized using the HNTf₂‐catalyzed ROP. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2455–2463     

Preparation and characterization of biodegradable poly(trimethylenecarbonate‐ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(p‐dioxanone) copolymers

A series of poly(trimethylenecarbonate‐ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(p‐dioxanone) copolymers were prepared with varying feed rations by using two step polymerization reactions. Poly(trimethylenecarbonate)(ε‐caprolactone) random copolymer was synthesized with stannous‐2‐ethylhexanoate and followed by adding p‐dioxanone monomer as the other block. The ring opening polymerization was carried out at high temperature and long reaction time to get high molecular weight polymers. The monofilament fibers were obtained using conventional melting spun methods. The copolymers were identified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The physicochemical properties, such as viscosity, molecular weight, melting point, glass transition temperature, and crystallinity, were studied. The hydrolytic degradation of copolymers was studied in a phosphate buffer solution, pH = 7.2, 37 °C, and a biological absorbable test was performed in rats. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2790–2799, 2005     

Regeneration of polycondensation of wholly aromatic poly(azomethine)s with 1,5‐ or 2,6‐substituted naphthalene moiety in main chain

Wholly aromatic poly(azomethine)s with 1,5‐ or 2,6‐substituted naphthalene moiety in the main chains were prepared in aprotic polar solvents or m‐cresol under various reaction conditions. In the polymerization of 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene with terephthalaldehyde, the polymer that synthesized in (HMPA/DMSO) at room temperature for 24 h by adding 5 wt % of calcium chloride and a very small amount of p‐toluenesulfonic acid showed the highest reduced viscosity in all of the polymers from 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene. The reduced viscosity of poly(azomethine)s synthesized from 2,6‐diaminonaphthalene with 2,6‐diformylnaphthalene in m‐cresol and with terephthalaldehyde in HMPA/DMSO were η_red = 0.35 and 0.36, respectively. The thermal analysis showed the poly(azomethine)s had high thermal stability and the glass‐transition temperatures of these polymers are about 250 °C. The X‐ray diffraction showed that they are partially crystalline. They could be polymerized again by second stage polycondensation in polyphosphoric acid. The reduced viscosities of the obtained polymers were about 2–5 times as high as that of the pristine polymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1064–1072, 2000     

Isomerization polymerization and copolymerization of glycidyl alkanoates catalyzed by methylaluminum bis(2,6‐di‐t‐butyl‐4‐methylphenoxide)

The isomerization polymerizations of glycidyl propionate (1b), octanoate (1c), and stearate (1d) with methylaluminum bis(2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenoxide) (3) were investigated. The polymerizations selectively gave poly(2‐alkyl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,2‐diyloxymethylene)s (2), although the polymer yield as well as the polymer molecular weight significantly decreased as the acyl chain of 1 was lengthened. These polymers readily hydrolyzed to glycerin and the corresponding fatty acids under mild conditions. The copolymerizations of glycidyl acetate (1a) with these monomers were also examined. In any combination, the composition of the obtained copolymer was essentially identical with the feed ratio, while both copolymer yield and molecular weight decreased as the feed of 1a was decreased. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 435–444, 1999 (See graphics.)     

Precision synthesis of microstructures in star‐shaped copolymers of ϵ‐caprolactone,L‐lactide,and 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one

Star‐shaped homo‐ and copolymers were synthesized in a controlled fashion using two different initiating systems. Homopolymers of ε‐caprolactone, L ‐lactide, and 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one were firstly polymerized using (I) a spirocyclic tin initiator and (II) stannous octoate (cocatalyst) together with pentaerythritol ethoxylate 15/4 EO/OH (coinitiator), to give polymers with identical core moieties. Our gained understanding of the versatile and controllable initiator systems kinetics, the transesterification reactions occurring, and the role which the reaction conditions play on the material outcome, made it possible to tailor the copolymer microstructure. Two strategies were used to successfully synthesize copolymers of different microstructures with the two initiator systems, i.e., a more multiblock‐ or a block‐structure. The correct choice of the monomer addition order enabled two distinct blocks to be created for the copolymers of poly(DXO‐co‐LLA) and poly(CL‐co‐LLA). In the case of poly(CL‐co‐DXO), multiblock copolymers were created using both systems whereas longer blocks were created with the spirocyclic tin initiator. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. JPolym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1249–1264, 2008     

Comparison of the growth and degradation of poly(glycolic acid) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) brushes

The growth and degradation of poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) brushes were compared. Using tin (octanoate) as the catalyst, optimal conditions were found for growth of each polyester brush from the hydroxy‐terminated silicon surface via ring‐opening polymerization. PCL brushes grew thicker at elevated temperatures but the thickest PGA brushes grew at room temperature. Unlike bulk polyesters that can degrade under both acidic and basic conditions, the confined surface polyester brushes only degraded under neutral or basic conditions. The degradation mechanism of grafted polyester brushes was probed through a blocking test. It was shown that the terminal hydroxy groups of these polyester brushes were essential to the degradation process indicating a preferential backbiting mechanism. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4643–4649     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(3,3 bis(azidomethyl)oxetane‐co‐ε‐caprolactone)s

The quasi‐living cationic copolymerization of 3,3‐bis(chloromethyl)oxetane (BCMO) and ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL), using boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst and 1,4‐butanediol as coinitiator, was investigated in methylene chloride at 0°C. The resulting hydroxyl‐ended copolymers exhibit a narrow molecular weight polydispersity and a functionality of about 2. The reactivity ratios of BCMO (0.26) and ε‐CL (0.47), and the T_g of the copolymers, indicate their statistical character. The synthesis of poly(3,3‐bis(azidomethyl)oxetane‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) from poly(BCMO‐co‐ε‐CL) via the substitution of the chlorine atoms by azide groups, using sodium azide in DMSO at 110°C, occurs without any degradation, but the copolymers decompose at about 240°C. All polymers were characterized by vapor pressure osmometry or steric exclusion chromatography, ¹H‐NMR and FTIR spectroscopies, and DSC. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1027–1039, 1999     

Synthesis and properties of poly(1‐naphthylacetylene) and poly(9‐anthrylacetylene)

Polymerizations of 1‐naphthylacetylene (1‐NA) and 9‐anthrylacetylene (9‐AA) by various transition metal catalysts were studied, and properties of the polymers were clarified. 1‐NA polymerized with WCl₆‐based catalysts to offer dark purple polymers in good yield. Especially, a binary catalyst composed of WCl₆ and Ph₃Bi gave a polymer with high molecular weight (M_w = 140×10³) and sufficient solubility in common solvents. The use of Mo and Rh catalysts, in contrast, resulted in the formation of insoluble red poly(1‐NA)s. 9‐AA gave insoluble polymers by both WCl₆‐ and MoCl₅‐based catalysts in moderate to good yields. Copolymerization of 9‐AA with 1‐NA by WCl₆–Ph₃Bi provided a soluble copolymer which exhibited the largest third‐order nonlinear optical susceptibilities (χ⁽³⁾(−3ω; ω, ω, ω) = 40×10⁻¹²) among all the substituted polyacetylenes synthesized so far. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 277–282, 1999