Macromolecular design is presented as a tool to control the degradation profiles and mechanical properties of degradable polyesters. Homo- and copolymers of lactic acid (LA), e-caprolactone (CL), 1,5-dioxepan-2-one (DXO), and but-2-ene-1,4-diyl malonate (BM) with different  polymer architectures were synthesized and exposed to hydrolytic degradation at 37 �C for up to 546 days. The triblock copolymer of PLLA-PBM-PLLA had a ductility approximately 4 times greater than that of a homopolymer of PLLA prior to degradation. However, a rapid initial hydrolysis in the amorphous PBM middle block changed the microstructure from triblock to diblock and the degradation profile thereafter followed that of a PLLA homopolymer with similar molar mass. Results presented also demonstrate that the release rate of acidic hydroxyacids was largely influenced by the macromolecular structure. By controlling the release of degradation products, local acidic environments and inflammatory responses from biomedical materials may be avoided or diminished.

Macromolecular design controls the degradation product pattern and mechanical properties of polyesters

244th National Meeting (2012)

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