Poly(glycerol sebacate): A Comparative Study of Various Synthesis Methods

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Enzymatic Synthesis

Background:

• Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a promising biodegradable elastomer for biomedical applications.
• Optimizing PGS synthesis is crucial for controlling its properties and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare five distinct synthesis methods for poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) prepolymers.
• To evaluate the impact of synthesis strategy on PGS molecular architecture and physicochemical properties.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of five PGS synthesis routes: high-temperature polycondensation, reduced pressure polycondensation, enzymatic synthesis with Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), CALB with acetone, and Amberlyst-15 catalysis.
• Characterization of PGS prepolymers using FTIR, NMR, ESI-MS, GPC, DSC, and TGA.

Main Results:

• Enzymatic synthesis with CALB demonstrated superior reaction control, prevented gelation, and yielded higher molecular weight PGS with narrow dispersity.
• NMR and ESI-MS analyses confirmed the presence of both linear and branched PGS structures.
• Synthesis strategy significantly impacts the molecular architecture and properties of PGS prepolymers.

Conclusions:

• Enzymatic synthesis using CALB is the most effective method for producing well-defined PGS prepolymers.
• The findings provide a foundation for designing tailored PGS-based materials for biomedical applications.