Insulin nanoparticle preparation and encapsulation into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres by using an anhydrous system

Insulin has been encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres by solid-in-oil-in-oil (S/O/O) emulsion technique using DMF/corn oil as new solvent pairs. To get better encapsulation efficiency, insulin nanoparticles were prepared by the modified isoelectric point precipitation method so that it had good dispersion in the inner oil phase. The resulting microspheres had drug loading of 10% (w/w), while the encapsulation efficiency could be up to 90-100%. And the insulin release from the microspheres could last for 60 days. Microspheres encapsulated original insulin with the same method had lower encapsulation efficiency, and shorter release period. Laser scanning confocal microscopy indicated the insulin nanoparticle and original insulin had different distribution in microspheres. The results suggested that using insulin nanoparticle was better than original insulin for microsphere preparation by S/O/O method.

Effect of peroxide crosslinking on thermal and mechanical properties of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), a saturated polyester, derived from ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone, was chemically crosslinked with various amounts of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) by a two-step method by first evenly dispersing the BPO into the PCL matrix and then crosslinking at elevated temperature. The gel fraction increased with an increase in BPO content. The modified Charlesby-Pinner equation was used to calculate the ratio of chain scission and crosslinking. The results showed that both scission and crosslinking occurred, and that crosslinking predominated over scission. The number-average molecular weight between the crosslinks determined by the rubber elasticity theory using the hot set test showed a decrease with increasing BPO content. The melting temperature and crystallinity decreased with an increase in BPO content, and the crystallization temperature increased after crosslinking. Dynamic mechanical analysis results showed a decrease in the glass transition temperature as a result of chemical crosslinking of PCL. This was explained by the observed reduction in crystallinity and the increase in free volume due to restrictions in chain packing.

RGD peptide grafted biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(glutamic acid)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(glutamic acid): Synthesis and self-assembly

A novel amphiphilic biodegradable triblock copolymer (PGL-PLA-PGL) with polylactide (PLA) as hydrophobic middle block and poly(glutamic acid) (PGL) as hydrophilic lateral blocks was successfully synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) Of L-lactide (LA) and N-carboxy anhydride (NCA) consecutively and by subsequent catalytic hydrogenation. The results of cell experiment of PGL-PLA-PGL suggested that PGL could improve biocompatibility of polyester obviously. The copolymer could form micelles of spindly shape easily in aqueous solution. The pendant carboxyl groups of the triblock copolymer were further activated with N-hydroxysuccinimide and combined with a cell-adhesive peptide GRGI)SY Incorporation of the oligopeptide further enhanced the hydrophilicity and led to formation of spherical micelles. PGL-PLAPGL showed better cell adhesion and spreading ability than pure PLA and the GRGDSY-containing copolymer exhibited even further improvement in cell adhesion and spreading ability, indicating that the copolymer could find a promising application in drug delivery or tissue engineering.

Synthesis and characterization of photo-cross-linked hydrogels based on biodegradable polyphosphoesters and poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers

Novel biodegradable hydrogels by photo-cross-linking macromers based on polyphosphoesters and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are reported. Photo-cross-linkable macromers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of the cyclic phosphoester monomer 2-(2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholoyloxy) ethyl methacrylate (OPEMA) using PEG as the initiator and stannous octoate as the catalyst. The macrorners were characterized by H-1 NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography measurements. The content of polyphosphoester in the macromer was controlled by varying the feed ratio of OPEMA to PEG. Hydrogels were fabricated by exposing aqueous solutions of macromers with 0.05% (w/w) photoinitiator to UV light irradiation, and their swelling kinetics as well as degradation behaviors were evaluated. The results demonstrated that cross-linking density and pH values strongly affected the degradation rates. The macromers was compatible to osteoblast cells, not exhibiting significant cytotoxicity up to 0.5 mg/mL. "Live/dead" cell staining assay also demonstrated that a large majority of the osteoblast cells remained viable after encapsulation into the hydrogel constructs, showing their potential as tissue engineering scaffolds.

Reversibly strain-tunable elastomeric photonic crystals

Reversibly strain-tunable polymeric photonic crystals made of thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) were fabricated by using the self-assembled silica opals as templates. The stop band of the polymeric photonic crystal locates at the near infrared (IR) regime in its transmission spectrum, and exhibits a blue shift with the increase of the incident angle. Because of the elasticity of the TPEE, the stop band of the TPEE photonic crystal can also be reversibly tuned at ambient temperature through to and fro uniaxially or biaxially stretching and recovering by changing the lattice spacing and the symmetry of the crystal along (1 1 1) plane.

Luminescent sol-gel thin films based on europium-substituted heteropolytungstates

Polyester thin films containing europium-substituted heteropolytungstate were obtained on quartz plate by the sol-gel method. The films exhibited the characteristic emission bands of the europium ion. The red to orange intensity ratio (R:O) of Eu3+ in the films increased as compared to the corresponding heteropolytungstate solids. The fluorescence lifetime of europium is shorter in the thin film than in the heteropolytungstate solid. The results indicated that the formation of europium-substituted heteropolytungstate/polyester thin film has great effect on the luminescence of europium- substituted heteropolytungstate.

Rheological properties in blends of poly(aryl ether ether ketone) and liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone)

Rheological properties of the blends of poly(aryl ether ether ketone) (PEEK) with liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone) containing substituted 3-trifluoro-methylbenzene side group (F-PAEK), prepared by solution precipitation, have been investigated by rheometer. Dynamic rheological behaviors of the blends under the oscillatory shear mode are strongly dependent on blend composition. For PEEK-rich blends, the systems show flow curves similar to those of the pure PEEK, i.e., dynamic storage modulus G' is larger than dynamic loss modulus G", showing the feature of elastic fluid. For F-PAEK-rich systems, the rheological behavior of the blends has a resemblance to pure F-PAEK, i.e., G" is greater than G', showing the characteristic of viscous fluid. When the PEEK content is in the range of 50-70%, the blends exhibit an unusual rheological behavior, which is the result of phase inversion between the two components. Moreover, as a whole, the complex viscosity values of the blends are between those of two pure polymers and decrease with increasing F-PAEK content. However, at 50% weight fraction of PEEK, the viscosity-composition curves exhibit a local maximum, which may be mainly attributed to the phase separation of two components at such a composition.

Dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of plasticized poly(lactic acid)

The blends of low molecular weight triacetin (TAC) and oligomeric poly(1,3-butylene glycol adipate) (PBGA) were used as multiple plasticizers to lubricate poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in this study. The thermal and mechanical properties of plasticized polymers were investigated by means of dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to analyze the morphologies of the blends. Multiple plasticizers were effective in lowering the glass transition temperature (T-g) and the melting temperature (T-m) of PLA. Moreover, crystallinity of PLA increased with increasing the con-tent of multiple plasticizers. Tensile strength of the blends decreased following the increasing of the plasticizers, but increased in elongation at break. AFM topographic images showed that the multiple plasticizers dispersed between interfibrillar regions. Moreover, the fibrillar crystallite formed the quasicrosslinkings, which is another cause for the increase in elongation at break.

Shear induced molecular alignments of a side-chain liquid crystalline polyacetylene containing biphenyl mesogens

Mesomorphic properties of a side chain liquid crystalline polyacetylene, poly(11-{[(4'-heptyloxy-4-biphenylyl)carbonyl]oxy}-1-undecyne) (PA9EO7), are investigated using polarized optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscope. Polymer PA9EO7 forms enantiotropic smectic A and smectic B phases. It also exhibits an additional high order smectic phase, a sandwich structure consisting of different molecular packing of biphenyl mesogenic moieties from that of alkyl spacers and terminals, when it is prepared from its toluene solution. Shearing the polymer film at its smectic A phase generates banded texture with the alignment of the backbones parallel to the direction of shear force. While at its high order smectic phase, the mesogen pendants of the polymer are arranged parallel to the direction of shear. The different mesomorphic behaviors arise from different molecular alignments influenced by the fluidity.

Tremolite-reinforced nylon 66 composites: Mechanical and rheological properties

The reinforcement effect of an acicular inorganic filler, tremolite, on nylon 66 was studied. The mechanical properties of tremolite-filled nylon 66 composites and the effect of the filler particle size on them were obtained. The dynamic mechanical properties and rheological properties of the composites were measured. Two treatments, silane and unsaturated polyester, were used to improve the interface between tremolite and the nylon matrix. The morphologies of the composites were investigated using SEM. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

A novel rare earth coordination catalyst for polymerization of biodegradable aliphatic lactones and lactides

A novel rare earth coordination system composed of lanthanide trifluoroacetates Ln(CF3COO)(3) (Ln = Y, Yb, Nd, Tm, Ho, La, Pr) and triisobutylaluminium Al(i-Bu)(3) was used as catalyst for the polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone (CL), D,L-lactide (DLLA) and their copolymerization. The influence of temperature, time and catalyst concentration on polymerization yields and molecular weights of the polyesters have been studied. It was shown that the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters catalysed by Ln(CF3COO)(3)/Al(i-Bu)(3) has some living character and the molecular weight of the polyester could be controlled by adjusting the molar ratio of monomer to catalyst. The DLLA/CL copolymer was synthesized by sequential addition of monomers and the structure of the copolyester was characterized by GPC, NMR and DSC. (C) 1998 SCI.

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic liquid crystalline poly(ester-imide)s derived from an imidodicarboxylic acid

A new class of liquid crystalline poly(ester-imide)s was synthesized by melt polycondensation. The basic physical properties of the resulting polymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (t.g.a.), and rheological and mechanical testing. All of these poly(ester-imide)s were amorphous, as reflected by the results obtained from the WAXD and d.s.c. studies. Characterization and comparison of these poly(ester-imide)s with the corresponding polyesters suggested that the introduction of imide groups into the polyester chain is favourable for the formation of liquid crystalline phases. These results, together with the rheological studies, suggested that there existed a form of strong inter- or intramolecular electron donor-acceptor interaction which played a significant role in the liquid crystalline properties of the poly(ester-imide)s. The polymer products thus obtained exhibited good mechanical properties, with flexural strengths and moduli as high as 174 MPa and 6.9 GPa, respectively. The morphology of the fracture surfaces of extruded rod samples showed a sheet-like structure which consisted of ribbons and fibres oriented along the flow direction. The glass transition temperatures and thermal stabilities of the polymers were improved by the incorporation of imide groups. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.

FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS AND MORPHOLOGY OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER SULFONE) THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMER BLENDS

Blends of a new phenolphthalein poly (ether sulfone) (PES-C) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) were prepared by melt-blending in a twin-screw extruder. Rheological properties, fracture toughness, K(IC), and morphology of the blends were