A High Efficiency PDMS-Based Stabilizer for Dispersion Polymerization of L-lactide in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Dispersion polymerization of lactides and lactones has been studied and has received a great deal of attention used to prepare biodegradable polymers in supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO₂). The triblock copolymers of poly(?-caprolactone) PCL-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-poly(?-caprolactone) PCL by the feed ratio of 1:2:1 and 1:3:1, respectively were synthesized to be used as the stabilizers in the dispersion polymerization of L-lactide. The fine poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) powders were obtained at the concentrations of 3% to 5%w/w (stabilizer/monomer). The results demonstrated that the triblock copolymers were the effective stabilizers for the dispersion polymerization of L-lactide. It was also found that the cooling process had a significant effect on the particle size of the fine powders. In order to obtain the best PLLA powders, it would be necessary to use the cooling process with stirring.     

Novel fluorinated stabilizers for ring‐opening polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide

Ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) has been the subject of much recent interest, although few publications describe the development of stabilizers to produce biodegradable particles of poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA) and polyglycolide (PGA). Here we describe the synthesis of a series of novel fluorinated diblock copolymers by the acid‐catalyzed esterification of well‐defined blocks of polycaprolactone (PCL) with Krytox 157FSL, a carboxylic acid terminated perfluoropolyether. These diblock copolymers were then tested as stabilizers in the ROP of glycolide and L ‐lactide, or a mixture of the two, in scCO₂, and this resulted in the corresponding homopolymers or random copolymers. In the absence of stabilizers, only aggregated solids were formed. When the reaction was repeated with a stabilizer, PGA and PLLA were obtained as discrete microparticles. The stabilizer efficiency increased as the length of the polymer‐philic PCL block increased. One optimized stabilizer worked at loadings as low as 3% (w/w) with respect to the monomer, demonstrating these to be extremely effective stabilizers. It was found that to produce microparticles with this process, the product polymers must be semicrystalline; amorphous polymers, such as poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide), are plasticized by scCO₂ and yield only aggregated solids rather than discrete particles. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6573–6585, 2005     

TUNED MECHANICAL PROPERTIES ACHIEVED BY VARYING POLYMER STRUCTURE — KNOWLEDGE THAT GENERATES NEW MATERIALS FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING

By changing both the monomer composition and the polymer structure, we have varied the mechanical properties of resorbable polymers. The polymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization using L-lactide （LLA）, ε-caprolactone （εCL）, trimethylene carbonate （TMC） and 1,5-dioxepan-2-one （DXO） as monomers. Well-defined triblock copolymers, microblock copolymers and networks have been evaluated, and comparisons between them show that it is possible to tune the mechanical properties. Triblock copolymers with an amorphous middle block of poly（1,5-dioxepan-2- one） （PDXO） and semi-crystalline end-blocks of poly（ε-caprolactone） （PCL） were stronger and had a higher strain at break than triblock copolymers with poly（L-lactide） （PLLA） as end-blocks. Polymers with both DXO and TMC in the amorphous middle-block and PLLA as end-blocks showed a lower stress at break, but the material gained elasticity, a property which is very valuable in tissue engineering. Mechanical properties of networks, synthesized by a novel method, containing PDXO and PCL are also presented. Although it is difficult to compare them with the uncross-linked polymers, this is an additional way to modify and widen the properties.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-b-Poly(L-lactide) and Study on Their Electrospun Scaffolds

A series of multi-block copolymers, poly(L-lactide)-b-poly (?-caprolactone) (PLLA-b-PCL) were synthesized. The first step of the synthesis consisted of the transesterification between the PLLA and 1,4-Butanediol, followed by the copolymerization of PLLA-diols and PCL, using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as a coupling agent. The synthesized polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). PLLA/PCL block copolymers were electrospun into ultrafine fibers. The morphology of the electrospun fibrous scaffolds were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results showed that the morphology and diameter of the fibers were affected by the electrospinning solution concentrationan and different weight ratio of PLLA/PCL. These electrospun PLLA-b-PCL fibrous membranes exhibited good flexibility and deformability. In comparison with the electrospun PLLA membrane, the electrospun fibrous membranes of PLLA-b-PCL demonstrated an enhanced elongation with still high tensile strength and Young's modulus to be beneficial for tissue engineering scaffolds.     

Enzymatic degradation of block copolymers obtained by sequential ring opening polymerization of l-lactide and ?-caprolactone

Copolymers of ?-caprolactone and l-lactide with different molar ratios were prepared via sequential ring opening polymerization (ROP) of both monomers. The resulting PCL-PLLA-PCL triblock copolymers were characterized by using NMR, SEC, DSC and XRD. One melting peak corresponding to the PCL block was detected, but the presence of PLLA decreased the crystallinity of PCL. Enzyme-catalyzed biodegradation of solution cast films was investigated at 37 °C in the presence of Pseudomonas lipase. It was observed that the PLLA component retarded the degradation of the block copolymer as compared to the PCL homopolymer. Therefore, the enzymatic degradation rate can be adjusted by varying the composition of the copolymers. ¹H NMR and SEC data showed no significant chemical composition or molecular weight changes during degradation, indicating that the degradation proceeded according to a surface erosion mechanism. ESEM confirmed surface erosion with appearance of a rugged morphology.     

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of new α-norbornenyl poly(ε-caprolactone) macromonomers

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) macromonomers capped by a polymerizable norbornene end-group have been synthesized and (co)polymerized by ring-opening metathesis with formation of graft copolymers and polymacromonomers. α-Norbornenyl PCL macromonomers have been synthesized by ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (εCL) initiated by 2-diethylaluminoxymethyl-5-norbornene. Copolymerization of these PCL macromonomers with norbornene and polymerizable derivatives has been catalyzed by the [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ PCy₃/(trimethylsilyl)diazomethane complex yielding a series of poly(norbornene)-graft-poly(ε-caprolactone) copolymers. These new graft copolymers have been characterized by a set of analytical methods, i.e., SEC, ¹H-NMR, FTIR, DSC, and TGA. Furthermore, PCL macromonomers have been polymerized into high molecular weight comb chains of narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.10) within high yields (90%). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2447–2455, 1999     

聚乳酸/聚己内酯/聚(ε-己内酯-L-丙交酯)共聚物三元共混体系的结构与性能

通过开环共聚合,合成了3种不同单元比例的ε-己内酯(ε-CL)与L-丙交酯(L-LA)的共聚物P(CL-co-LA)。通过熔融共混制备了聚乳酸(PLA)/聚己内酯(PCL)/P(CL-co-LA)三元共混材料,研究了P(CL-co-LA)对共混材料微观形貌、热性能以及力学性能的影响。 结果表明,共聚物P(CL-co-LA)作为PLA/PCL不相容体系的界面增容剂,减小了PCL分散相的尺寸,改善了PLA/PCL共混体系的相容性,提高了共混材料的韧性。 固定m(PLA):m(PCL):m(P(CL-co-LA))=80:20:10时,以P(CL49/LA51)(其中数字代表摩尔分数(%))作为界面增容剂效果最佳,共混材料的断裂伸长率可达到(210±30)%。     

Toughening modification of PLLA with PCL in the presence of PCL‐b‐PLLA diblock copolymers as compatibilizer

To obtain an effective compatibilizer for the blends of poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), the diblock copolymers PCL‐b‐PLLA with different ratios of PCL/PLLA (CL/LA) and different molecular weights (M_n) were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of L‐lactide with monohydric poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL‐OH) as a macro‐initiator. These copolymers were melt blended with PLLA/PCL (80/20) blend at contents between 3.0 and 20 phr (parts per hundred resin), and the effects of added PCL‐b‐PLLA on the mechanical, morphological, rheological, and thermodynamic properties of the PLLA/PCL/PCL‐b‐PLLA blends were investigated. The compatibility between PLLA matrix and PCL phase was enhanced with decreasing in CL/LA ratios or increasing in M_n for the added PCL‐b‐PLLA. Moreover, the crystallinity of PLLA matrix increased because of the added compatibilizers. The PCL‐b‐PLLA with the ratio of CL/LA (50/50) and M_n ≥ 39.0 kg/mol were effective compatibilizers for PLLA/PCL blends. When the content of PCL‐b‐PLLA is greater than or equal to 5 phr, the elongations at break of the PLLA/PCL/PCL‐b‐PLLA blends all reached approximately 180%, about 25 times more than the pristine PLLA/PCL(80/20) blend.     

Synthesis of PDMAEMA-PCL-PDMAEMA triblock copolymers

The synthesis of ABA triblock copolymers of the type PDMAEMA-PCL-PDMAEMA was achieved by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of DMAEMA using difunctional polycaprolactone (PCL) as macroinitiator. First, ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) was carried out in the presence of 1,2-diaminoethane/tin (II) octanoate. Dihydroxy PCL thus obtained was end-functionalized in a quantitative manner using 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide. The resulting Br-PCL-Br was used as macroinitiator in the ATRP of DMAEMA leading to triblock copolymers with PCL as the central block and PDMAEMA sequences of different lengths. NMR and SEC analyses confirmed the formation of ABA triblocks.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Four-Arm Star Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-Block-Poly(cyclic-carbonate methacrylate) Copolymers by Combining Ring-Opening Polymerization With Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Well-defined four-arm star poly(?-caprolactone)-block-poly(cyclic carbonate methacrylate) (PCL-b-PCCMA) copolymers were synthesized by combining ring-opening polymerization (ROP) with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). First, a four-arm poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) macroinitiator [(PCL-Br)₄] was prepared by the ROP of ?-CL catalyzed by stannous octoate at 110°C in the presence of pentaerythritol as the tetrafunctional initiator followed by esterification with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide. The sequential ATRP of CCMA monomer was carried out by using the (PCL-Br)₄ tetrafunctional macroinitiator (MI) and in the presence of CuBr/2, 2′-bipyridyl system in DMF at 80°C with [(MI)]:[CuBr]:[bipyridyl] = 1:1:3 to yield block polymers with controlled molecular weights (M_n (NMR) = 10700 to 27300 g/mol) by varying block lengths and with moderately narrow polydispersities (M_w/M_n = 1.2–1.4). Block copolymers with different PCL: PCCMA copolymer composition such as 50:50, 70:30 and 74:26 were prepared with good yields (48-74%). All these block copolymers were well characterized by NMR, FTIR and GPC and tested their thermal properties by DSC and TGA.     

Semi-crystalline poly(ε-caprolactone) brushes on gold substrate via “grafting from” method: New insights with AFM characterization

This paper is the first report about the morphology of semi-crystalline poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) brushes studied by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in tapping mode. This represents a convenient way to observe how the growth of a polymer proceeds from a thiol monolayer on gold substrate in terms of grafting density and thiol monolayer stability. The synthesis of semi-crystalline PCL brushes was carried out by Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) from hydroxyl end-group of thiol monolayer on gold surface as catalyzed with tin octoate (Sn(Oct)₂) at 50 °C. Addition of a sacrificial initiator was also attempted in order to get a finer control over PCL crystals. For a sake of comparison, triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) was also investigated as another ROP catalyst active at ambient temperature. The composition and the morphology of resulting semi-crystalline PCL brushes were characterized using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and AFM. In the case of Sn(Oct)₂-promoted ROP of CL with or without free (sacrificial) initiator (i.e., benzyl alcohol), different types of morphologies were observed on the gold substrate, due to the thermal instability of thiol-gold bond under the experimental conditions. When TBD was used at ambient temperature, a regular and homogeneous crystalline morphology, i.e., compact PCL crystals, could be observed.     

In-chain functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone): A valuable precursor towards the synthesis of 3-miktoarm star containing hyperbranched polyethylene

Well-defined 3-miktoarm star copolymer 3μ-HBPE(PCL)₂ (HBPE: hyperbranched polyethylene, PCL: poly[ε-caprolactone]) was synthesized by combining chain walking polymerization (CWP), ring-opening polymerization (ROP), and “click” chemistry. The synthetic methodology includes the following steps: (a) synthesis of in-chain ethynyl-functionalized PCL, (PCL)₂-C ≡ CH by ROP of ε-caprolactone (CL) with ethylene-functionalized solketal (3-[prop-2-yn-1-yloxy] propane-1,2-diol) as difunctional initiator and phosphazene superbase t-BuP₂ as catalyst; (b) synthesis of azido-functionalized hyperbranched PE (HBPE-N₃) by CWP of ethylene with α-diimine-Pd(II) catalyst, followed by quenching with excess 4-vinylbenzyl chloride and transformation of chloro to azide group with sodium azide; and (c) “clicking” HBPE-N₃ and (PCL)₂-C ≡ CH using copper(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition. ¹H NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry were used to determine the molecular characteristics and thermal properties of the polymers. Self-assembly behavior of 3μ-HBPE (PCL)₂ in petroleum ether, a selective solvent for HBPE, was investigated by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The in-chain alkyne-functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone) is a valuable precursor for PCL-based complex macromolecular architectures.     

Preparation and characterization of heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers by combination of reversible addition‐fragmentation transfer polymerization and ring‐opening polymerization

Heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers, [(poly(L ‐lactide))(polystyrene)]poly(ethylene oxide)[(polystyrene)(poly(L ‐lactide))], [(PLLA)(PS)]PEO[(PS)(PLLA)], in which PEO acts as a main chain and PS and PLLA as side arms, have been successfully prepared via combination of reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization and ring‐opening polymerization (ROP). The first step is the synthesis of the PEO capped with one terminal dithiobenzoate group and one hydroxyl group at every chain end, [(HOCH₂)(PhC(S)S)]PEO[(S(S)CPh)(CH₂OH)] from the reaction of carboxylic acid with ethylene oxide. Then, the RAFT polymerization of styrene (St) was carried out using [(HOCH₂)(PhC(S)S)]PEO[(S(S)CPh)(CH₂OH)] as RAFT agent and AIBN as initiator, and the triblock copolymer, [(HOCH₂)(PS)]PEO[(PS)(CH₂OH)], was formed. Finally, the heteroarm H‐shaped terpolymers, [(PLLA)(PS)]PEO[(PS)(PLLA)], were produced by ROP of LLA, using triblock copolymer, [(HOCH₂)(PS)]PEO[(PS)(CH₂OH)], as macroinitiator and Sn(Oct)₂ as catalyst. The target products and intermediates were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 789–799, 2007     

An efficient synthetic route to well‐defined theta‐shaped copolymers

A series of well‐defined θ‐shaped copolymers composed of polystyrene (PS) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution have been successfully synthesized without any purification procedure by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), ring‐opening polymerization (ROP), and the “click” chemistry. The synthetic process involves two steps: (1) synthesis of AB₂ miktoarm star copolymers, which contain one PCL chain terminated with two acetylene groups and two PS chains with two azido groups at their one end, (α,α′‐diacetylene‐PCL) (ω‐azido‐PS)₂, by ROP, ATRP, and the terminal group transformation; (2) intramolecular cyclization of AB₂ miktoarm star copolymers to produce well‐defined pure θ‐shaped copolymers using “click” chemistry under high dilution. The ¹H NMR, FTIR, and gel permeation chromatography techniques were applied to characterize the chemical structures of the resultant intermediates and the target polymers. Their thermal behavior was investigated by DSC. The mobility decrease of PCL chain across PS ring in the theta‐shaped copolymers restricts the crystallization ability of PCL segment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2620–2630, 2009     

Amphiphilic poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ε-caprolactone) graft copolymers: synthesis and characterisation

Amphiphilic poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ε-caprolactone) graft copolymers (PDMAEMA-g-PCL) with various compositions and molecular weights were synthesised via a fully controlled three-step strategy. First, poly(ε-caprolactone) macromonomers (PCLMA) were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) initiated by aluminum triisopropoxide (Al(OⁱPr)₃), followed in a second step by quantitative esterification of PCL hydroxy end-groups with a methacrylic acid derivative. Finally, the controlled copolymerization of PCLMA and N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was carried out by atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) in THF at 60 °C using CuBr ligated with 1,1,4,7,10,10, hexamethyl triethylenetetramine and ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate as catalyst and initiator, respectively. Furthermore, PDMAEMA-g-PCL graft copolymers were reacted with methyl iodide to convert the pendant tertiary amines into quaternary ammonium iodides increasing accordingly their water solubility. Some preliminary experiments was further carried out by tensiometry and dynamic light scattering in order to shed so light on the tensioactive behaviour of these amphiphilic graft copolymers (with protonated amines or quaternary ammonium cations).     

聚(ε-己内酯-L-丙交酯)无规共聚物与聚乳酸共混材料的制备与性能

通过开环聚合,合成不同比例的ε-己内酯(ε-CL)与L-丙交酯(L-LA)的无规共聚物P(CL/LLA)。 将上述共聚物P(CL/LLA)与聚乳酸(PLLA)共混,制备了PLA/P(CL/LLA)共混材料。 并对其相容性、热性能、力学性能进行了研究。 结果表明,共聚物P(CL/LLA)与PLA相容性与共聚物中LA单元含量和链段的平均长度有密切关系,P(CL/LLA)中LA链段平均长度达到3.4以上时,可以与PLA很好的相互作用。 同时共聚物P(CL/LLA)中-CL-链段有很好的柔性,可以很好的改善PLLA的韧性,使PLLA材料的断裂伸长率达到500%以上。     

Amphiphilic Seven-arm Star Triblock Copolymers with Diverse Morphologies in Aqueous Solution Induced by Crystallization and pH

Well-defined amphiphilic seven-arm star triblock copolymers containing hydrophobic crystalline poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) blocks, hydrophobic non-crystalline poly(tert-butyl acrylate)(PtBA) blocks and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) blocks were precisely synthesized by a combination of ring-opening polymerization(ROP), atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP) and “click” reaction. Such star copolymers could self-assemble into “core-shell-corona” micelles and “multi-layer” vesicles depending on the fraction of each block. Meanwhile, the selective hydrolysis of middle PtBA blocks into the poly(acrylic acid)(PAA) blocks allowed the star block copolymers to further change their morphologies of aqueous aggregates in response to pH values.     

三臂PPO-PDLA-PLLA 嵌段共聚物的制备与结构及其立构复合体的结晶行为

以环氧丙烷聚醚三元醇(PPO)为起始剂, 开环聚合D 型丙交酯(DLA), 合成三臂环氧丙烷聚醚三元醇-聚右旋乳酸(PPO-PDLA)嵌段预聚体. 采用端基活化技术对预聚体进行端羟基活化, 再与L 型丙交酯(LLA)进行逐步开环聚合,合成了不同分子量的三臂环氧丙烷聚醚三元醇-聚右旋乳酸-聚左旋乳酸(PPO-PDLA-PLLA)嵌段共聚物. 采用红外(FTIR)、核磁(NMR)和凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)等对三臂PPO-PDLA-PLLA 嵌段共聚物的测试表明, 合成的嵌段共聚物分子链具有很高的立构规整度; 通过调节LLA 单体与PPO-PDLA 预聚体的投料比, 不仅可控制产物的分子序列结构, 而且样品的数均分子量可大于100 kDa. 差示扫描量热仪(DSC)和广角X 射线衍射(WAXD)结果显示, 三臂PPO-PDLAPLLA嵌段共聚物的异构体链段分子间生成立构复合晶体, 其熔点约为200 ℃, 且没有PLLA 均聚物链段结晶现象. 实验结果表明, 这是一类具有实际应用价值的新型耐热聚乳酸(PLA)材料.     

三臂支化PLLA-PDLA嵌段共聚物的合成及立构复合结晶行为

以三羟甲基乙烷为起始剂, 开环聚合L-丙交酯(LLA), 合成三臂支化左旋聚乳酸(PLLA)预聚物. 采用端基活化技术对预聚物进行端羟基活化, 再与D-丙交酯(DLA)进行开环聚合, 合成了不同分子量的三臂支化左旋聚乳酸-右旋聚乳酸(PLLA-PDLA)嵌段共聚物. 采用核磁共振谱和凝胶渗透色谱等对样品的结构和分子量进行测试, 结果表明,合成的嵌段共聚物链结构具有链段立构规整度和高分子量的特点; 通过调节DLA单体与PLLA预聚物的投料比, 可实现对PLLA-PDLA嵌段共聚物的序列结构调控. 差示扫描量热仪和广角X 射线衍射结果表明, 三臂支化PLLA-PDLA嵌段共聚物的异构体分子间生成立构复合晶体, 其熔点高于200℃; 共聚物的嵌段序列结构对材料的凝聚态转变行为有很大的影响.     

Synthesis and drug controlled release of block copolymers of poly(l-lactide) with poly(d,l-lactide) and related monomers

Four types of new biodegradable block copolymers AB, ABA, AC and AD, where A is poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), B is poly(D, L-lactide) (PDLLA), C is poly(p-dioxanone) (PDON) and D is poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) with different block lengths were synthesized and characterized by GPC, IR, ¹H-NMR and DSC. There are phase-separated and biodegradable block copolymers. Their in vitro biodegradation rates with the change of composition ratio were studied as well as the biodegradation rates of homopolymers with the series as PDON > PDLLA > PLLA in parallel with their crystallinities, i.e. from amorphous to semicrystalline. All these block copolymers were used as matrix to test their controlled release behavior of levo-norgestrel (LNG) in the form of microspheres through solvent evaporation preparation with thoroughly long-time washing to minimize the generally occurring bursting effect. As a result all of them showed almost constant rate of release even from the initial stage,