Citrate Crosslinked Poly(Glycerol Sebacate) with Tunable Elastomeric Properties

Abstract

Poly(glycerol‐sebacate) (PGS) is a biodegradable elastomer known for its mechanical properties and biocompatibility for soft tissue engineering. However, harsh thermal crosslinking conditions are needed to make PGS devices. To facilitate the thermal crosslinking, citric acid is explored as a crosslinker to form poly(glycerol sebacate citrate) (PGSC) elastomers. The effects of varying citrate contents and curing times are investigated on the mechanical properties, elasticity, degradation, and hydrophilicity. To examine the potential presence of unreacted citric acid, material acidity is monitored in relation to the citrate content and curing times. It is discovered that a low citrate content and a short curing time produce PGSC with tunable mechanical characteristics similar to PGS with enhanced elasticity. The materials demonstrate good cytocompatibility with human umbilical vein endothelial cells similar to the PGS control. The research study suggests that PGSC is a potential candidate for large‐scale biomedical applications because of the quick thermal crosslink and tunable elastomeric properties.

Pair of Functional Polyesters That Are Photo-Cross-Linkable and Electrospinnable to Engineer Elastomeric Scaffolds with Tunable Structure and Properties

“…In other word, the E , UTS, and strain at break are all increased as the cross-linking density decreases. This is different with conventional thermoset elastomers, which typically show an E proportional to the cross-links but the strain at break is inverse to the cross-links. , In our case, the PA to PT ratios can simultaneously affect the cross-linking densities and the polymer chain structures (crystalline vs coiled chains). The higher PT fraction leads to a decrease in the cross-linking densities, longer polymer segments between the cross-links, and thus, the more stretchable PAPT elastomers (Figure B).…”

Photocured Poly(Mannitol Sebacate) with Functional Methacrylic Monomer: Analysis of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties

“…One of the most promising families of soft polyesters is the poly(polyol sebacate) (PPSe) family, as they have already shown potential biomedical applications [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGSe) is the most studied member of the PPSe family and has been used in various soft tissue engineering applications or as a carrier for anti-cancer drugs [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Most of these polymers are commonly easily produced through melt polycondensation reactions instead of enzymatic polymerization.…”

Effect of static tensile stress on enzymatic degradation of poly(glycerol sebacate)

“…Different from the above mentioned polymers, poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a thermosetting polyester with surface degradation mechanism. 7,8 PGS shows the characteristics of linear degradation, and the decline of its mechanical properties is controllable. 9 PGS degrades mainly through ester bond hydrolysis to oligomers and finally degraded to the initial reaction monomers sebacic acid and glycerol.…”

“…Different from the above mentioned polymers, poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a thermosetting polyester with surface degradation mechanism 7,8 . PGS shows the characteristics of linear degradation, and the decline of its mechanical properties is controllable 9 .…”