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Ring-Opening Polymerization of L-Lactide and Preparation of Its Microsphere in Supercritical Fluids

  1. Ji Won Pack1,2,
  2. Soo Hyun Kim1,*,
  3. Soo Young Park2,
  4. Youn-Woo Lee3,
  5. Young Ha Kim1

Article first published online: 11 MAR 2004

DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200300089

Issue

Macromolecular Bioscience

Macromolecular Bioscience

Special Issue: Highlights from the First IUPAC International Conference on Bio-based Polymers (ICBP 2003) in Saitama, Japan

Volume 4, Issue 3, pages 340–345, March 15, 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Pack, J. W., Kim, S. H., Park, S. Y., Lee, Y.-W. and Kim, Y. H. (2004), Ring-Opening Polymerization of L-Lactide and Preparation of Its Microsphere in Supercritical Fluids. Macromol. Biosci., 4: 340–345. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200300089

Author Information

  1. 1

    Biomaterials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul 130-650, South Korea

  2. 2

    School of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shilim-dong, Kwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-744, Korea

  3. 3

    School of Chemical Engineering & Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shilim-dong, Kwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-744, Korea

*Biomaterials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul 130-650, South Korea. Fax: +82-2-958-5308

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 MAR 2004
  2. Article first published online: 11 MAR 2004
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 9 JAN 2004
  4. Manuscript Revised: 12 DEC 2003
  5. Manuscript Received: 6 NOV 2003

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Keywords:

  • biodegradable;
  • microsphere;
  • poly(L-lactide);
  • ring-opening polymerization;
  • supercritical fluid

Abstract

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Summary: The ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide initiated by stannous octoate was carried out in supercritical chlorodifluoromethane (scR22) at various reaction conditions (time and temperature) and reactant concentrations (initiator, monomer, and solvent). The monomer conversion increased to ca. 70% on increasing the reaction time to 1 h. The molecular weight of the poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) product also increased to ca. 160 000 g · mol−1 over the same period. Increasing reaction temperature from 90 to 130 °C resulted in increased monomer conversion and PLLA molecular weight. A series of polymerizations conducted at various 1-dodecanol and stannous octoate concentrations suggested that stannous octoate does not act as an initiator by itself, and that the tin-alkoxide formed from 1-dodecanol and stannous octoate serves as the initiating species in scR22. While enhancements of the monomer conversion and PLLA molecular weight were observed with increasing monomer concentration, the chlorodifluoromethane concentration had the opposite on both. After the polymerization, PLLA microspheres were prepared in situ by using a continuous supercritical antisolvent process without residual organic solvent and monomer to yield highly purified microspheres for environmental and biomedical applications.

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