Biodegradable poly(sebacic anhydride-co-caprolactone) multi-block copolymers: Synthesis, characterization, crystallinity and crystalline morphology

Biodegradable poly(sebacic anhydride-co-caprolactone) (PSA-co-PCL) multi-block copolymers were prepared by condensation of acylated PSA and PCL prepolymers with different weight ratios. The homopolymer and copolymers were characterized by 1H-NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and atom force microscope (AFM). 1H-NMR and GPC has indicated the formation of PSA-co-PCL multi-block copolymers, in which PSA and PCL segments are randomly distributed. The incorporation of PCL segments into the molecule chains even at a content of 20 wt% could significantly decrease the molecular weight distribution of the copolymer and increase its weight average molecular weight, as compared with PSA homopolymer. DSC has revealed that the melting temperature and degree of crystallinity for both SA and CL components are strongly composition dependent, implying the hindrance effect of the two components on crystallinity of each other. AFM observation has shown the difference in crystalline structures between PSA and PCL phases in the copolymers. In-vitro degradation tests performed at 37 °C in PBS buffer solution (pH 7.4, 0.1 M) have demonstrated the acceleration of degradation rate of the sample with increasing SA content in the copolymer.