聚乳酸-聚乙二醇-聚乳酸三嵌段共聚物的降解性能

以辛酸亚锡为引发剂,聚乙二醇大分子为共引发剂进行现交酯开环聚合,制备了系列聚乳酸（PLA）－聚乙二醇（PEG）－聚乳酸（PLA）三嵌段共聚物。从共聚物在生理盐水 中降解时特性粘度[η],质量和热行为的变化,考察了PEG分子量和丙交酯／PEG（摩尔比）对共聚物降解行为的影响,结果表明,PEG嵌段对共聚物的降解速率有重要影响,丙交酯／PEG一定时,PEG分子量越大,共聚物越容易降解,PEG嵌段长度一定时,丙交酯／PEG越大,共聚物降解速率越小。     

环氧丙烷聚醚三元醇/聚乳酸嵌段共聚物的合成与性能

以低不饱和度环氧丙烷聚醚三元醇与L型及DL型丙交酯为原料, 合成了不同单体物质的量比的聚醚与聚乳酸嵌段共聚物. 采用FTIR, 1H NMR, GPC对共聚物的结构进行了表征; 用DSC, DTA对共聚物的玻璃化转变温度、熔点及热分解温度进行了研究. 结果表明, 丙交酯在聚醚多元醇端羟基的引发下发生开环反应, 得到聚环氧丙烷L型乳酸(POLLA)或聚环氧丙烷DL型乳酸(PODLA)二嵌段共聚物. POLLA二嵌段共聚物具有结晶能力, 且随着L型聚乳酸链段的增长而增强. PODLA二嵌段共聚物为非晶态聚合物. 两种共聚物的玻璃化转变温度与共聚物的组成有关, 其值介于聚醚和聚乳酸玻璃化转变温度之间. 与聚醚三元醇相比, 二嵌段共聚物的耐热性得到提高, 其热分解温度提高了30～60 ℃, 约为235～262 ℃. 共聚物的结构和组成对材料的热降解机制有很大影响. PODLA在高温区发生热氧化降解.     

多臂聚乳酸对线型聚乳酸结晶的促进作用

以多端羟基聚酯为引发剂,经丙交酯开环聚合得到多臂聚乳酸（MA-PLA）。 MA-PLA在DSC二次升温过程中,出现明显的冷结晶峰(41.5 J/g)和熔融峰(42.5 J/g),而工业产品聚乳酸PLLA 3051D没有这2个峰,确认该多臂聚乳酸的结晶能力优于3051D。 MA-PLA多臂聚乳酸的左旋乳酸单元含量为97%,高于3051D的91%。 将MA-PLA与PLLA-3051D共混后,在DSC二次升温过程中出现了熔融峰和冷结晶峰。 偏光显微镜观察表明,共混物的成核速率和初期球晶生长速度加快。 等温结晶动力学数据表明,110 ℃等温结晶的半结晶时间由空白样品的53.6 min缩短至共混物的31.7 min,Avrami指数n由空白样品的2.25增加至共混物的2.60,可见多臂聚乳酸对线形聚乳酸结晶性能的改善,主要是加快了成核速率。     

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.     

Mechanical property and biodegradability of solution‐cast films prepared from amphiphilic polylactide‐grafted dextran

Polylactide (PLA)‐grafted dextran was synthesized with a trimethylsilyl protection method to produce novel biodegradable, biomedical materials. PLA‐grafted dextrans with various lengths and numbers of graft chains were synthesized. The properties of solution‐cast films prepared from PLA‐grafted dextrans were investigated with thermal and dynamic mechanical analyses. The graft‐copolymer films exhibited lower glass‐transition temperatures, melting temperatures (T_m's), and crystallinities as well as higher viscosity properties as compared with poly‐L ‐lactide film. The T_m and crystallinity and mechanical properties at 37 °C could be adjusted by controlling the molecular structure such as the lengths and numbers of graft chains. Furthermore, the biodegradability of PLA‐grafted dextran films was investigated through the weight change of film and the molecular weight change of polymer during the in vitro degradation test. PLA‐grafted dextrans exhibited different degradation behavior from poly‐L ‐lactide with the introduction of a polysaccharide segment and branched structure as well as the change of end‐functional group. The degradation rate of PLA‐grafted dextran and the cast film prepared from PLA‐grafted dextran could be adjusted by controlling the sugar content or the length of graft chains. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2462–2468, 2003     

Viscosity studies of poly(DL‐lactic acid) in supercritical CO2

The effect of supercritical CO₂ on the viscosity and activation energy to viscous flow of P_DLLA is investigated, using a high pressure parallel plate rheometer, over a range of temperatures (50–140 °C) and pressures (5–12 MPa). The Cross model is fitted to the data to enable calculation of the zero shear viscosity and critical shear rate. A significant decrease in the viscosity is observed on increasing both variables; however, at high temperatures, the pressure effect becomes negligible. An increase in the critical shear rate is also observed on raising the pressure, indicative of a reduction in the relaxation time of the polymer. Manipulation of the Arrhenius equation shows a reduction in the activation energy to viscous flow as the pressure is increased. Together, these results show that the melt processing temperature of P_DLLA can be reduced in the presence of supercritical and high pressure CO₂. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

The effect of heat treatment on water sorption in polylactide and polylactide composites via changes in glass‐transition temperature and crystallization kinetics

Water sorption into polylactide (PLA) and polylactide‐montmorillonite (PLLA‐MONT) composites containing 5 wt % of montmorillonite (MONT) under different heat treatment conditions was studied using the quartz crystal microbalance/heat conduction calorimetry (QCM/HCC) technique. Results showed that water sorption in neat polymer films and composite films increased with heat treatment temperature up to 120 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to measure the glass‐transition temperature and isothermal crystallization kinetics of all samples. The mobility of the amorphous domain in all samples increased with heat treatment temperature, indicated by the decrease in glass‐transition temperature. PLA composites crystallized at a much faster rate than neat PLA did because MONT acted as a nucleating agent. Under the same heat treatment condition, water sorption in PLLA‐MONT composites was always higher than that in neat PLA due to the presence of the hydrophilic hydroxyl groups on the surface of MONT particles. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

A Polymer for Application as a Matrix Phase in a Concept of In Situ Curable Bioresorbable Bioactive Load-Bearing Continuous Fiber Reinforced Composite Fracture Fixation Plates

The use of bioresorbable fracture fixation plates made of aliphatic polyesters have good potential due to good biocompatibility, reduced risk of stress-shielding, and eliminated need for plate removal. However, polyesters are ductile, and their handling properties are limited. We suggested an alternative, PLAMA (PolyLActide functionalized with diMethAcrylate), for the use as the matrix phase for the novel concept of the in situ curable bioresorbable load-bearing composite plate to reduce the limitations of conventional polyesters. The purpose was to obtain a preliminary understanding of the chemical and physical properties and the biological safety of PLAMA from the prospective of the novel concept. Modifications with different molecular masses (PLAMA-500 and PLAMA-1000) were synthesized. The efficiency of curing was assessed by the degree of convergence (DC). The mechanical properties were obtained by tensile test and thermomechanical analysis. The bioresorbability was investigated by immersion in simulated body fluid. The biocompatibility was studied in cell morphology and viability tests. PLAMA-500 showed better DC and mechanical properties, and slower bioresorbability than PLAMA-1000. Both did not prevent proliferation and normal morphological development of cells. We concluded that PLAMA-500 has potential for the use as the matrix material for bioresorbable load-bearing composite fracture fixation plates.     

Thoroughly Hydrophilized Electrospun Poly(L-Lactide)/ Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Sponges for Tissue Engineering Application

Biodegradable electrospun sponges are of interest for various applications including tissue engineering, drug release, dental therapy, plant protection, and plant fertilization. Biodegradable electrospun poly(l -lactide)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLLA/PCL) blend fiber-based sponge with hierarchical pore structure is inherently hydrophobic, which is disadvantageous for application in tissue engineering, fertilization, and drug delivery. Contact angles and model studies for staining with a hydrophilic dye for untreated, plasma-treated, and surfactant-treated PLLA/PCL sponges are reported. Thorough hydrophilization of PLLA/PCL sponges is found only with surfactant-treated sponges. The MTT assay on the leachates from the sponges does not indicate any cell incompatibility. Furthermore, the cell proliferation and penetration of the hydrophilized sponges are verified by in vitro cell culture studies using MG63 and human fibroblast cells.     

Investigation of the synthesis of poly-D,L-lactide-co-poly(ethylene glycol) flexible thermoplastic

A series of biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock poly(ether-ester-urethane)s with various lactide-to-poly(ethylene glycol) (LA/PEG) mole ratios has been successfully synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) followed by chain extension reaction through formation of urethane linkage. Resulting FT-IR spectra indicate complete polymerization of lactide monomers, while NMR analysis quantitatively marks the chain length of polymer blocks. The molecular weight and dispersion index of copolymers were investigated by GPC analysis. DSC thermogram and XRD diffractogram of the prepared copolymers were studied as well for revealing the thermal and crystallinity behavior of the copolymer as LA/PEG mole ratios varied.