PCL-Based Shape Memory Polymer Semi-IPNs: The Role of Miscibility in Tuning the Degradation Rate.

ABSTRACT: The utility of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) as a shape memory polymer (SMP) may be improved by accelerating its degradation. Recently, we have reported novel semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPNs) composed of cross-linked PCL diacrylate (PCL-DA) and thermoplastic poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) that exhibited SMP behavior, accelerated degradation, and enhanced moduli versus the PCL-DA control. Herein, we systematically varied the thermoplastic component of the PCL-based semi-IPNs, incorporating homo- and copolymers based on lactic acid of different M_n, hydrophilicity, and crystallinity. Specifically, semicrystalline PLLAs of different M_ns (7.5, 15, 30, and 120 kDa) were explored as the thermoplastics in the semi-IPNs. Additionally, to probe crystallinity an

SUBMITTER: Pfau MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8742658 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature