A novel route to α,ω-telechelic poly(ɛ-caprolactone) diols, precursors of biodegradable polyurethanes, using catalysis by decamolybdate anion

Sustainable Polycaprolactone Polyol-Based Thermoplastic Poly(ester ester) Elastomers Showing Superior Mechanical Properties and Biodegradability

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have attracted increasing attention for a wide variety of industrial and biomedical applications owing to their unique properties compared to those of traditional rubbers. To develop high-performance engineering TPEs and reduce the environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, α,ω-hydroxyl-terminated polycaprolactone (PCL) polyols with molecular weights of 1000-4200 g mol-1 and polydispersity index (Ð) of 1.30-1.88 are synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of sustainable ε-caprolactone using a heterogeneous double metal cyanide catalyst. The resulting PCL polyols are employed as soft segments to produce thermoplastic poly(ester ester) elastomers and are compared to conventional thermoplastic poly(ether ester) elastomers prepared from polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). Notably, the PCL-based TPEs exhibit superior mechanical properties and biodegradability compared to PTMEG-based TPEs owing to their crystallinity and microphase separation behaviors. Accordingly, they have 39.7 MPa ultimate strength and 47.6% biodegradability, which are much higher than those of PTMEG-based TPEs (23.4 MPa ultimate strength and 24.3% biodegradability). The introduction of biodegradable PCLs demonstrates significant potential for producing biodegradable TPEs with better properties than polyether-derived elastomers.

Sustainable xanthophylls-containing poly(ε-caprolactone)s: synthesis, characterization, and use in green lubricants

Three xanthophylls [(3R,3'R,6'R)-lutein (1), (3R,3'S)-zeaxanthin (2), and (3R,3'S)-astaxanthin (3)] were used for the first time as initiators in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) catalyzed by tin(ii) 2-ethylhexanoate [Sn(Oct)2] for the synthesis of novel sustainable xanthophyll-containing poly(ε-caprolactone)s (xanthophylls-PCL). The obtained polyesters were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR, DSC, SEC, and MALDI-TOF MS, and their use as additives in green lubricants was evaluated using a sliding friction test under boundary conditions. Xanthophylls-PCL were obtained with good conversions and with molecular weights determined by SEC to be between 2500 and 10 500 Da. The thermal properties of xanthophyll-polyesters showed a crystalline domain, detected by DSC. Lastly, the green lubricant activity of these polymers was evaluated and the results showed that xanthophylls-PCL could be employed as additives for biodegradable lubricant applications since they have better tribological behavior than current additives, which demonstrates their potential as future commercial materials with interesting eco-friendly properties for diverse applications.

Heterogeneous Double Metal Cyanide Catalyzed Synthesis of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Polyols for the Preparation of Thermoplastic Elastomers

A series of polycaprolactones (PCLs) with molecular weights of 950–10,100 g mol−1 and Ð of 1.10–1.87 have been synthesized via one-pot, solvent-free ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) using a heterogeneous double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst. Various initiators, such as polypropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and sorbitol, are employed to tune the number of hydroxyl end groups and properties of the resultant PCLs. Kinetic studies indicate that the DMC-catalyzed ROP of CL proceeds via a similar mechanism with the coordination polymerization. Branched PCLs copolymers are also synthesized via the DMC-catalyzed copolymerization of CL with glycidol. The α,ω-hydroxyl functionalized PCLs were successfully used as telechelic polymers to produce thermoplastic poly(ester-ester) and poly(ester-urethane) elastomers with well-balanced stress and strain properties.

A novel strategy to polyurethanes with improved mechanical properties by photoactivation of amidocoumarin moieties

An attractive strategy involving photodimerization of a novel amidocoumarin moiety is presented to prepare polyurethane coatings with excellent mechanical properties. Two families of polyurethanes containing these chromophore units into soft or hard segments were easily synthesized by inserting a small fraction of amidocoumarin-diol (5 wt% or 10 wt%). A systematic study has been carried out comparing hard segment, chromophore content and the influence of this amidocoumarin unit within the hard or soft segment. For all synthetized polymers, mechanical properties of the coatings have been evaluated before and after an excitation of the coumarin units with UV light. The results show that the insertion of coumarin into the hard segment leads to a considerable improvement of the mechanical properties after irradiation. Additionally, the photochemical activity of amidocoumarin was studied by UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopies.

An attractive strategy involving photodimerization of a novel amidocoumarin moiety is presented to prepare polyurethane coatings with excellent mechanical properties.

Synthesis and characterization of segmented poly(ester-urethane)s (PEUs) containing carotenoids

A series of three different xanthophylls such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin were used as chain extender agents in the synthesis of a new family of segmented poly(ester-urethane)s (PEUs) derived from poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL).

Degradable poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-co-polycaprolactone hydrogels for tissue engineering scaffolds

Biodegradable poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)(pHEMA) hydrogels for engineered tissue constructs were developed by the use of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), a degradable cross-linker, and a macroinitiator. Hydrogels are appropriate materials for tissue engineering scaffolds because of their tissue-like mechanical compliance and mass transfer properties. However, many hydrogels that have seen wide application in medicine are not biodegradable or cannot be easily cleared from the body. pHEMA was selected for the scaffold material because of its reasonable mechanical strength, elasticity, and long history of successful use in medicine as well as because it can be easily fabricated into numerous configurations. pHEMA was studied at various molecular weights between 2 and 50 kDa. The molecular weight range suitable for renal clearance was an important factor in the experimental design. The fabricated hydrogels contain oligomeric blocks of polycaprolactone (PCL), a hydrolytically and enzymatically degradable polymer, as a cross-linking agent. In addition, a degradable macroinitiator that also contained oligomeric PCL was used to initiate the ATRP. The chain length, cross-link density, and polymerization solvent were found to affect the mechanical properties of the pHEMA hydrogels. Degradation of the pHEMA hydrogels was characterized by the use of 0.007 M NaOH, lipase solutions, and phosphate-buffered saline. The mass loss, swelling ratio, and tensile modulus were evaluated. Degradation products after sodium hydroxide treatment were measured by the use of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to verify the polymer lengths and polydispersity. Erosion was observed in only the sodium hydroxide and lipase solutions. However, the swelling ratio and tensile modulus indicate bulk degradation in all PCL-containing samples. Degradable hydrogels in enzymatic solutions showed 30% mass loss in 16 weeks. Initial cell toxicity studies indicate no adverse cellular response to the hydrogels or their degradation products. These hydrogels have appropriate mechanical properties and a tunable degradation rate, and they are composed of materials that are currently in FDA-approved devices. Therefore, the degradable pHEMA developed in this study has considerable potential as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications, in cardiac and other applications.