Abstract
A novel series of photocrosslinkable biodegradable polymers was prepared by a high‐temperature solution polycondensation from a dichloride of 4,4′‐(adipoyldioxy)dicinnamic acid (CAC) and alkane diols of various methylene lengths (HO(CH~2~)~n~OH; n = 6–10) or poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEG) of various molecular weights $(\bar M = 200 - 8300)$. The CAC was synthesized by the condensation of adipoyl chloride and 4‐hydroxycinnamic acid. The chemical structures and properties of these polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐VIS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), ^1^H NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimertry (DSC), and thermogravimetry (TG). All polymers had a high molecular weight and good solubility in organic solvents. DSC showed that T~m~ values of CAC__n__ (134–180 °C) were much higher than those of CACE__m__ (25–56 °C). The CACE200 degraded very rapidly in the buffer solutions (pH 7.2) of Ps. Cepacia or Rh. delemar lipase at 37 °C, while CAC__n__ resisted the hydrolysis by these lipases during the test period. The ultraviolet light irradiation (λ ≥ 280 nm) caused the photocrosslinking reaction by an intermolecular dimerization at ambient temperature without a photosensitizer, as examined by UV‐VIS, FT‐IR spectroscopy, and gel formation. The gels prepared from CACE__m__ (m ≈ 1 000) were swollen in water and showed characteristic properties of a hydrogel. The irradiation time and the molecular weight of PEGs controlled the degree of swelling of these hydrogels. The CACE8 300 gel irradiated for 20 min showed the largest degree of swelling of 10.5.
Weight loss of a CACE200 film as a function of time in a phosphate buffer solution containing no lipase (□), Ps. cepacia lipase (•), or Rh. delemar lipase (○) at 37 °C.
magnified imageWeight loss of a CACE200 film as a function of time in a phosphate buffer solution containing no lipase (□), Ps. cepacia lipase (•), or Rh. delemar lipase (○) at 37 °C.