Polymer biodegradability of step-growth

The Effects of Some Structural Variations on the Biodegradability of Step-Growth Polymers... 

Activity in the study of biodegradable polymers has been increasing in recent years (1-4). Since most of the currently available polymers have not been found to be biodegradable, efforts have been directed toward the syntheses of new polymers that are biodegradable. In this chapter, our recent results and those of related reports by other researchers are discussed in terms of the effects of structural variations on the biodegradabilities of step-growth polymers. 

S.J. Huang, M. Bitritto, K.W. Leong, J. Pavlisko, M. Roby and J.R. Knox, "The effects of some structural variations on the biodegradability of step-growth polymers". Stabilization and Degradation of Polymers (Am. Chem. Soc.), 17,209-214,1978. 

Aliphatic polyesters occupy a key position in the field of polymer science because they exhibit the remarkable properties of biodegradability and biocompatibihty, which opens up a wide range of applications as environmentally friendly thermoplastics and biomaterials. Three different mechanisms of polymerization can be implemented to synthesize aliphatic polyesters (1) the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic ketene acetals, (2) the step-growth polymerization of lactones, and (3) the ROP of lactones (Fig. 1). 

Bio-based monomers with more complex chemical structure and multiple functionalities suitable for step-growth or for ring-opening chain polymerization expand the scope of macromolecular engineering based on glucidic feedstock. Lactide monomers, obtained by the cyclodimerization of lactic acid produced by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates, is chemically polymerized into renewable, biocompatible and biodegradable thermoplastics, poly(L-lactic acid) and related polymers, well-suited for a broad range of commercial uses. ... 

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