Preparation and properties of a novel biodegradable ethyl cellulose grafting copolymer with poly(p-dioxanone) side-chains

A novel biodegradable ethyl cellulose (EC) grafting copolymer with poly(p-dioxanone) side-chains were successfully synthesized via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of p-dioxanone (PDO) with a tin 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)2) catalyst in bulk at 120 °C. By adjusting the molar ratios of PDO monomer to EC, the different side-chain lengths can be introduced onto EC backbone. The thermal properties and crystalline behaviors of EC-g-PPDO copolymers (EGPs) were different from those of linear PPDO. Furthermore, the in vitro degradation rate of EGPs was faster than the linear PPDO counterpart, and the degradability of grafting copolymers was decreased with the increase of the crystallinity of PPDO side-chains.