DIBOP · NOVEL SYNTHESIS OF BIODEGRADABLE ALIPHATIC POLYESTERS FOR PACKAGING AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2006-03-15 → 2008-03-14
- EU contribution
- €241,626
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- EIF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - DIBOP (Novel synthesis of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters for packaging and biomedical applications)
During this project we developed a new method for the synthesis of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters and copolymers using a non toxic catalyst. Poly(lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol), PLA-b-PEG and poly(e-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol), PCL-b-PEG, of different structures were prepared by the ring opening polymerisation of lactides and e-caprolactone in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) as microinitiator and a potassium compound as catalyst in toluene at room temperature. A wide range of copolymers with different compositions were prepared. The standard procedure was used to prepare poly(lactide)-b-poly(e-caprolactone) linear and star copolymers by substituting hydroxy terminated poly(e-caprolactone) for poly(ethylene glycol). The new catalyst system was investigated for the synthesis of poly(lactides), PLA; Poly(e-caprolactone), PCL and poly(trimethylene carbonate) P(TMC) homopolymers as well as PLA-b-PCL, PLA-b-PTMC and PCL-b-PTMC copolymers. Scale-up experiments were carried out at Robinson brothers Ltd and the results obtained showed no significant problems associated with the production of these materials on an industrial scale. The materials obtained were fully characterised by GPC, NMR and DSC and their physico-chemical properties were determined. The physical properties of these materials could be tailored by the proper choice of the polymer architecture and polymer composition. In vitro cytotoxicity tests on these materials were carried out in the laboratory of histology at the University of Ghent and the results obtained showed that the materials were not toxic toward the fibroblast cells. Depending on the physical properties, these materials were designed for biomedical and packaging applications. For biomedical applications, selected copolymers of poly(LL-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) were processed to form microspheres. Copolymers of low molecular weights were investigated as plasticisers for biodegradable PLA. The results showed a drastic change of the physical properties of PLA. The glass transition was decreased from 60 to 20 degrees Celsius and the elongation at break increased from 5 to 320 % without significant loss of tensile strength.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Worldwide, the problems associated with the production of large amounts of waste are recognised as some of the most serious to be faced currently. For example, 41% of 30.4 million tonne pa of plastics used in the EU are used for packaging, more than 75% en ds up in landfill. In the case of plastic waste the preferred solution, up to now, is recycling. Nevertheless, degradable materials can play an important role to reduce these waste disposal problems. Biodegradable polymers, such as poly(lactic acid), not a ble to replace environmentally unfriendly packaging because their physical properties are representative of brittle materials. The work contained in this programme is designed to address this problem by producing plasticizers, that are also biodegradable, that can be blended with PLA and extruded to produce flexible films. A recent project supported by the EU under the CRAFT programme have shown that such plasticizers can be engineered from block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol), a flexible block, and po ly(lactic acid), compatible with the base polymer.The main objective of this project is to continue the exploitation of our new method developed to replace the tin catalyst for the synthesis of poly(lactic acid) homopolymer and poly(lactic acid)-co-poly(et hylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) copolymers using a non toxic potassium based catalyst.The new catalyst system will also be used for the synthesis of other aliphatic polyesters such as poly(caprolactone), poly(glycolic acid) and their different copolymers.Using th is safe catalyst system, the obtained polymers can be directed towards different applications:- As modifiers for PLA to enhance its physical properties for production of environment-friendly packaging such as films, bottles, trays etc. - The combination of their biodegradability and biocompatibility, the produced hompolymers and copolymers can be as biomaterials for different biomedical applications.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- ASTON UNIVERSITY · BIRMINGHAMCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union