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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
Aliphatic polyester terpolymers for stent coating and drug elution: effect of polymer composition on drug solubility
Delphine Chan-Seng1, T Ranganathan, Xiongfei Zhang
1University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Abstract:
Ring-opening terpolymerization of L-lactide (LA), -caprolactone (CL), and glycolide (GA) was performed in the presence of tin (II) 2-ethylhexanoate at 170 degrees C. Random terpolyesters with weight-average molecular weight up to 130,000 g/mol were obtained. These terpolyesters, especially those with LA:CL:GA composition of 3:1:1, provided good coating integrity following spraying onto bare metal stents. The semi-synthetic macrolide immunosuppressant, everolimus, was incorporated into the terpolyester coating, and its release from the stent was evaluated. Unlike PLLA homopolymers, which are immiscible with the drug and non-optimal for controlled release, these terpolymers gave excellent control in a screening study, by tuning terpolymer molecular weight, relative monomer ratio, and drug-to-polymer ratio. Adjusting the polymer properties to improve drug solubility (or miscibility) in the polymer coating was found beneficial to the release profile.
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