Functionalized polyesters biodegradability

Keywords Aliphatic polyester Biodegradable polymer Functionalized polymer Lactone Living polymerization Macromolecular engineering Ring-opening... 

Zhu, C., Kustra, S. R., Bettinger, C. J. Photocrosslinkable biodegradable elastomers based on cinnamate-functionalized polyesters. Acta... 

FUNCTIONAL POLYESTERS AND POLYAMIDES FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS... 

Functional polyesters were synthesized through the specific catalysis of lipase, and their properties and functions were evaluated. Enantio- and regioselec-tive polycondensations produced chiral and sugar-containing polyesters, respectively [20,23]. Using lipase catalyst reactive polyesters were conveniently obtained, some of which were crosslinked to biodegradable coatings. Recently, polyester-based biomaterials have been developed by lipase-catalyzed polymerizations. 

Lim et al. [114] synthesized a biodegradable ester analog of polylysine, poly[alpha-(4-aminobutyl)-L-glycolic acid] (PAGA). While the polymer displayed no cytotoxicity, only modest transfection activity was observed. This maybe due to a too fast hydrolysis and, similar to polylysine, the lack of efficient endosomal escape functionality. Another biodegradable cationic polyester, poly (4-hydroxy-L-proline ester) showed similar characteristics [115]. 

Throughout the 1990s a large portion of the research and development effort for hot melt adhesives focused on developing adhesives that are either environmentally friendly or functional [69,81,82]. Environmentally friendly attributes include biodegradability, water dispersibility (repulpability), renewability, and water releasability. Biodegradable adhesives have been developed based on starch esters [83-86] and polyesters such as poly (hydroxy butyrate/hydroxy valerate) [87], poly(lactide) [88-91], and poly(hydroxy ether esters) [92-94]. All but the... 

Propylene glycol, i.e., 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO), is an important commodity chemical. It is used as biodegradable functional fluids and as precursors for the syntheses of unsaturated polyester resins and pharmaceuticals (9-10). Propylene glycol is currently produced from petroleum-derived propylene via oxidation to propylene oxide and subsequent hydrolysis (9, 11). However, the rising cost of propylene provides an incentive to find a substitute to propylene for this... 

Polyesters, such as microbially produced poly[(P)-3-hydroxybutyric acid] [poly(3HB)], other poly[(P)-hydroxyalkanoic acids] [poly(HA)] and related biosynthetic or chemosynthetic polyesters are a class of polymers that have potential applications as thermoplastic elastomers. In contrast to poly(ethylene) and similar polymers with saturated, non-functionalized carbon backbones, poly(HA) can be biodegraded to water, methane, and/or carbon dioxide. This review provides an overview of the microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of poly(HA) biodegradation. In particular, the properties of extracellular and intracellular poly(HA) hydrolyzing enzymes [poly(HA) depolymerases] are described. 

The polymerization of substituted lactones is an attractive strategy for extending the range of aliphatic polyesters and for tailoring important properties such as biodegradation rate, bioadherence, crystallinity, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties [100]. Moreover, the substituent can bear a functional group, which can be very useful for the covalent attachment of drugs, probes, or control units. 

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