Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Based Graft Copolymers: Synthesis Methods and Applications in the Biomedical Field: A Review

Abstract

Synthetic biopolymers are attractive alternatives to biobased polymers, especially because they rarely induce an immune response in a living organism. Poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) is a well-known synthetic aliphatic polyester universally used for many applications, including biomedical and environmental ones. Unlike poly lactic acid (PLA), PCL has no chiral atoms, and it is impossible to play with the stereochemistry to modify its properties. To expand the range of applications for PCL, researchers have investigated the possibility of grafting polymer chains onto the PCL backbone. As the PCL backbone is not functionalized, it must be first functionalized in order to be able to graft reactive groups onto the PCL chain. These reactive groups will then allow the grafting of new reagents and especially new polymer chains. Grafting of polymer chains is mainly carried out by “grafting from” or “grafting onto” methods. In this review we describe the main structures of the graft copolymers produced, their different synthesis methods, and their main characteristics and applications, mainly in the biomedical field.

Harnessing the power of polyol-based polyesters for biomedical innovations: synthesis, properties, and biodegradation

“…182 Researchers reported that the degradation rate of PCL can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of d , l -lactide to ε-caprolactone monomers in PCL- co -PLA copolymer. 183 Copolymer with higher lactide content degrades more rapidly due to the higher susceptibility of the lactide monomer to hydrolysis. The monomeric composition of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers also affects their degradation behavior.…”

Recent Progress in Modification and Preparations of the Promising Biodegradable Plastics: Polylactide and Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)

“…However, high modulus commercial PLA can be regarded as macromonomer copolymerized with low molecular weight comonomers [109]. PLA-based graft copolymers can be synthesized with monomers like ε-caprolactam [110], glycolic acid, polymers such as PEG [111], inorganic materials like CNTs, graphene oxide and natural macromolecules like dextran starch, chitosan, lignin, cellulose, silk sericin.…”

Effects of Grafting Maleic Anhydride onto Poly‐ɛ‐caprolactone on Facilitative Enzymatic Hydrolysis

“…[16,17] PCL exhibits excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and processability, and has been approved by the FDA with a high biodegradation rate in the human body. [18] It has been adopted in widespread applications, such as biomaterials, biomedicine, ecological products, and packaging. [19][20][21] Despite its considerable degradability in various environments (such as soil, rivers, and oceans), PCL still requires specific conditions for decomposition to occur.…”