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Viscoelastic Evaluation of Poly(Trimethylene Carbonate)s Bearing Oligoethylene Glycol Units Which Show Thermoresponsive Properties at Body Temperature
Author(s) -
Haramiishi Yoshiaki,
Kawatani Ryo,
Chanthaset Nalinthip,
Ajiro Hiroharu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201900019
Subject(s) - trimethylene carbonate , biocompatibility , ethylene glycol , polymer chemistry , polymer , viscoelasticity , materials science , polymerization , chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
Poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) derivatives have been extensively researched for use as low‐toxicity biomaterials. Better biocompatibility and lower toxicity have been achieved by eliminating acid generation from the ester group at the side chains. In this study, thermosensitive PTMC derivatives bearing oligo(ethylene glycol) units are synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization for the development of low‐toxicity and thermosensitive soft materials. The viscoelastic properties of the obtained polymers are then investigated by rheometry to clarify the thermosensitive and molecular weight effects. Furthermore, thermosensitive behaviors and dynamics of these polymers are observed by UV–vis transmittance, DSC, and 1 H NMR spectra analysis. These data suggest a mechanism for the thermosensitive behavior where it is surmised that some kind of dehydration phenomenon induces aggregation behavior in aqueous media above lower critical solution temperature. These thermosensitive behaviors provide an important road map for the development of thermosensitive soft materials using ester‐free PTMC derivatives by controlling the thermosensitive behaviors and bulk properties.