Effect of hydrophilicity on the properties of a degradable polylactide

Boxberg, Y., Schnabelrauch, M., Vogt, S., Salmerón-Sánchez, M. , Gallego Ferrer, G., Monleón Pradas, M. and Suay Antón, J. (2006) Effect of hydrophilicity on the properties of a degradable polylactide. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 44(4), pp. 656-664. (doi: 10.1002/polb.20723)

Abstract

A series of polylactide networks has been prepared by the copolymerization of a biodegradable oligolactide macromer with hydrophobic methyl methacrylate monomer and hydrophilic hydroxyethyl acrylate monomer, with different amounts of the hydrophilic monomer. The incorporation of the hydrophilic units into the network has been characterized with thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical spectrometry. A homogeneous material results, showing a single glass-transition temperature and a characteristic relaxation behavior that is not the sum of those of the pure components separately. Additional hydrophilic units in the network chains lower the rubbery modulus, keeping a high modulus value at room temperature, and manifestly increase the degradation rate of the polymer. This can be attributed both to the higher water swellability of the network when hydrophilic units are present and to the higher water diffusion coefficient in a network, which has a lower crosslinking density.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Salmeron-Sanchez, Professor Manuel
• Authors: Boxberg, Y., Schnabelrauch, M., Vogt, S., Salmerón-Sánchez, M., Gallego Ferrer, G., Monleón Pradas, M., and Suay Antón, J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Journal Name: Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics
• ISSN: 0887-6266
• ISSN (Online): 1099-0488
• Published Online: 05 January 2006