Degradation characteristics of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)‐based copolymers and blends

• DOI: 10.1002/app.24196
• Publication Date: 2006-07-28T19:10:11Z
• Authors: Ming‐Hsi Huang; Suming Li; Dietmar W. Hutmacher; Jean Coudane; Michel Vert
• Keywords: Hydrolytic degradation; Degradation; Caprolactone; Autocatalysis; Lactide

Abstract The hydrolytic degradation of various bioresorbable copolymers and blends derived from ϵ‐caprolatcone, D,L ‐lactide poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was investigated at 37°C in a pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. Poly(ϵ‐caprolatcone) (PCL) followed slow profile due to its hydrophobicity crystallinity. hydrophilicity degradability the materials can be improved by copolymerization with PEG and/or poly‐( ‐lactide) (PLA). Homogenous shown cases PCL, PCL/PEG their blends, whereas PLA‐containing heterogenous internal autocatalysis. It also that PCL‐based gradually turned PCL‐enriched residues during preferential hydrolysis PLA segments diffusion soluble species such as oligomers detached blocks bearing short segments. results are discussed comparison literature data. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1681–1687,