Poly(lactide)—Poly(ethylene oxide)—Poly(lactide) Triblock Copolymers: Synthesis and Thermal Properties

摘要

Poly (lactide) – poly (ethylene oxide) – poly (lactide) [PLAPEO- PLA] triblock copolymers are of particular interest in the biomedical field due to their biocompatibility and their ability to form hydrogels in water. These hydrogels have potential applications in both drug delivery applications and tissue engineering. They are particularly interesting because their mechanical properties can be influenced by both the length of the PLA hydrophobic endblocks and by the ability of the PLA end-blocks to crystallize. Copolymers with crystallizable PLLA end-groups form stiffer gels, while copolymers with amorphous stereorandom PLA form weaker hydrogels. We investigate here the thermal properties of these triblock copolymers in their neat state to establish the presence of crystalline PLLA before incorporation into hydrogels and the effect of aging.