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Biodegradable poly(ether‐ester) multiblock copolymers for controlled release applications
Author(s) -
van DijkhuizenRadersma R.,
Roosma J.R.,
Kaim P.,
Métairie S.,
Péters F.L.A.M.A.,
de Wijn J.,
Zijlstra P.G.,
de Groot K.,
Bezemer J.M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.20044
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , crystallinity , ether , polymer chemistry , swelling , polymer , ethylene glycol , peg ratio , condensation polymer , degradation (telecommunications) , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , composite material , chemistry , telecommunications , engineering , economics , finance , computer science
Multiblock poly(ether‐ester)s based on poly(ethylene glycol), butylene terephthalate, and butylene succinate units were synthesized by a two‐step melt polycondensation reaction, with the aim of developing a new series of degradable polymers for controlled release applications. The copolymers were characterized with respect to their composition (NMR), thermal properties (DSC), and swelling. The main focus was on the degradation kinetics and release properties of the copolymers. The crystallinity and swelling could be tailored by the PEG segment length and the ratio of the building units. With increasing mol fraction succinate in the hard segment, the swelling increased. The in vitro degradation was found to occur by molecular weight decrease and mass loss. Substitution of the aromatic terephthalate units by aliphatic succinate units increased the degradation rate of the copolymers. Polymers with PEG segments of 1000 kg/mol showed a more pronounced degradation than copolymers containing shorter and longer PEG segments. Model proteins were successfully incorporated and released from the poly(ether‐ester) films. Depending on the size of the protein, the release mechanism was based on diffusion of the protein and degradation of the matrix. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 67A: 1294–1304, 2003