Biodegradable cross-linked poly(trimethylene carbonate) networks for implant applications: Synthesis and properties

In order to avoid the deformation of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) in vivo applications, bis(cyclic carbonate) was synthesized and used as cross-linker to prepare PTMC based biodegradable networks via ring-opening polymerization of TMC and/or CL with stannous octanoate as catalyst. The effect of the cross-linking on the resulted networks was studied. The results showed that the crosslinker had high reactivity and efficiency to form stable polymeric networks with high gel percentage, high decomposition temperature and good mechanical properties. These obtained networks were amorphous and elastic, and the glass transition temperatures were below physiological temperature (37 °C), which were expected to be rubbery for in vivo applications. The properties of the networks could be predictably controlled and tailed by varying the polymer composition and cross-linker amount in feed. The cross-linked PTMC based networks showed a potential biomedical application of loading drugs for implanted devices.