Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable hyperbranched poly(ester-amide)s based on natural material

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Development of novel polymers from natural resources is crucial for sustainable materials.
• Hyperbranched polymers offer unique properties like low viscosity and high solubility.
• Biodegradable polymers are essential for environmentally friendly applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel AB3-type monomers from gallic acid and amino acids.
• To prepare hyperbranched poly(ester-amide)s via melt polycondensation.
• To investigate the structural, molecular, and degradation properties of the synthesized polymers.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of AB3-type monomers from gallic acid and amino acids.
• Melt polycondensation using MgO catalyst at 170-190°C.
• Characterization using FTIR, NMR (1H and 13C), and GPC.
• In vitro hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation studies.

Main Results:

• Novel AB3-type monomers and hyperbranched poly(ester-amide)s were successfully synthesized.
• Structures were confirmed by FTIR and NMR, with degrees of branching ranging from 0.50-0.68.
• Polymers exhibited moderately high molecular weights and were found to be both hydrolytically and enzymatically degradable.
• Hydrolytic degradation rate increased with pH.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized hyperbranched poly(ester-amide)s are biodegradable and possess tunable degradation characteristics.
• These polymers derived from natural resources show promise for applications requiring controlled degradation.
• Further research can explore their use in drug delivery, tissue engineering, or other biomedical fields.