Controlled polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone -from macromolecules to microspheres

Pseudoanionic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone (CL), initiated with dialkylaluminum alkoxides, was used for the tailored synthesis of poly(CL) with M̄_n ≤ 100 000 and M̄_w /M̄_n < 1. 20. Macromolecules with functional groups at one or at both ends were obtained in this way. Controlled polymerization of CL allowed to prepare poly(dodecyl acrylate)-g-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (poly(DAC)-g-poly(CL)) with well defined poly(CL) grafts. These copolymers were used as the surface active agents for the direct synthesis of poly(CL) microspheres. The number average diameter (D̄_n ) of poly(CL) microspheres varied from 0.628 μm to 0.94 μm and the diameter polydispersity (D̄_v /D̄_n ) varied from 1.038 to 1.26, depending on the composition of poly(DAC)-g-poly(CL). Human serum albumin (HSA) and human gamma globulins (_γ G) were attached to the poly(CL) microspheres. The maximal surface concentrations of HSA and _γ G adsorbed onto the microspheres were equal to 9·10⁻⁴ g/m² and 2.0·10⁻³ g/m² respectively.