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Oligoagarose‐Graft‐Polycaprolactone Copolymers: Synthesis and Characterization
Author(s) -
BhawLuximon Archana,
Jhurry Dhanjay,
Booluck Mooneerah Heerah,
Correc Gaëlle,
Génicot Sabine,
Helbert William
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200950303
Subject(s) - polycaprolactone , copolymer , polymer chemistry , amphiphile , micelle , grafting , polyester , polymerization , biopolymer , aqueous solution , materials science , critical micelle concentration , chemistry , ring opening polymerization , organic chemistry , polymer
In this paper, we combine hydrophilic oligoagarose (DP n = 10–15), issued from enzymatic degradation of the natural biopolymer agarose, with polycaprolactone, a synthetic biodegradable and hydrophobic polyester. To synthesize these amphiphilic graft copolymers, we use partially acetylated oligoagarose as macroinitiator in combination with tin (II) octanoate for the bulk polymerization of ε ‐caprolactone. The grafting was confirmed by NMR and SEC which showed a monomodal distribution. After removal of the acetyl protecting groups, copolymers with 30–60% free hydroxyl groups were soluble in water and insoluble in chloroform, thus indicating that they probably adopt micelle‐like structures in aqueous solution with a PCL hydrophobic core and spherical oligoagarose side chains.