A new graft copolymer, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-styrene) -graft-poly( -caprolactone), was prepared by combination of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) with coordination-insertion ringopening polymerization (ROP). The copolymerization of styrene (St) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was carried out at 60 °C in the presence of 2-phenylprop-2-y...

Ring-opening polymerisation of epsilon-caprolactone in supercritical carbon dioxide is slowed down by a carbonation reaction, resulting in a positive volume of activation and a higher energy of activation as compared to polymerisation in a regular hydrocarbon solvent.

A series of approximately 50:50 mol % poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymers were synthesized by bulk copolymerization of L-lactide (LL) and ε-caprolactone (CL) using stannous octoate (Sn(Oct) 2 ) and diethylene glycol (DEG) as the initiating system. The resulting P(LL-co-CL) copolymers were characterized by various analytical techniques including dilute-solution viscometry, GPC, H/C NMR ...

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PECL) copolymers were synthesized from polyethylene glycol (PEG) and epsilon-caprolactone (epsilon-CL) using stannous octoate as catalyst at 160 degrees C by bulk polymerization. The effect of the molecular weight of PEG and the copolymer ratio on the properties of the copolymers was investigated by (1)H-NMR, IR, DSC and GPC. PCL and PECL micros...

Biocomposite scaffolds were fabricated by incorporation of nanobredigite (n-BD) into the polymer of poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethyleneglycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL). The results revealed that the addition of n-BD into PCL-PEG-PCL significantly improved water absorption, compressive strength, and degradability of the scaffolds of n-BD/PCL-PEG-PCL composite (n-BPC) compared with PCL-P...

An investigation of the influence of droplet size conditions and monomer choice on electrospun carbon nanofiber properties is presented. Monomer choices included poly (ε-caprolactone) and poly (methyl methacrylate) with and without the addition of single walled carbon nanotubes. A key property under investigation is the effect of electrospinning conditions on the resulting carbon nanofiber elas...

Hydrogels, electrospun fiber mats (EFMs), and their composites have been extensively studied for tissue engineering because of their physical and chemical similarity to native biological systems. However, while chemically similar, hydrogels and electrospun fiber mats display very different topographical features. Here, we examine the influence of surface topography and composition of hydrogels,...

Biodegradable polymers can serve as barriers to prevent the post-operative intestinal adhesion. Herein, we synthesized a biodegradable triblock copolymer poly(ɛ-caprolactone-co-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ɛ-caprolactone-co-lactide) (PCLA-PEG-PCLA). The concentrated polymeric aqueous solution was injectable, and a hydrogel could be rapidly formed due to percolation of a self-assemble...

The paper explored the catalytic activity of a cell debris self-immobilized thermophilic lipase for polyester synthesis, using the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone as model. Effects of biocatalyst concentration, temperature, and reaction medium on monomer conversion and product molecular weight were systematically evaluated. The biocatalyst displayed high catalytic activity at high...

The heteronucleobase (adenine and uracil)-functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone) (A-PCL-U) possessing supramolecular structure has been successfully synthesized through the combination of ringopening polymerization and Michael addition reaction. Attachment of multiple hydrogen-bonding units to chain ends of PCL results in phase separation and substantial increase in the viscosity. The association ...