Fabricating polycitrate-based biodegradable elastomer nanofibrous mats via electrospinning. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ji, Yali; Liang, Kai; Guo, Yongfang
• Is Part Of: Journal of elastomers and plastics. Volume 53:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 258
• Page End: 269
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Bioelastomer -- polycitrate -- poly(ε-caprolactone) -- biodegradable -- electrospinning; Plastics -- Periodicals; Elastomers -- Periodicals; 668.405
• DOI: 10.1177/0095244320933995
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-2443

Abstract

Melt polycondensation of citric acid (CA) and diols can form biodegradable thermoset bioelastomers with good biological properties and designed performances. However, their cross-linked structure reveals a big challenge to fabricate submicrofibers or nanofibers via electrospinning. Herein, melt polycondensation of CA and 1, 8-octanediol in the presence of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was performed to fabricate a prepolymer containing high-molecular-weight poly(1, 8-octanediol- co -PCL citrate) (POCL) for facilitating direct electrospinning. The results showed that the direct electrospinning of the prepolymer was still unfeasible even if POCL had a high molecular weight; however, introducing a certain quantity of PCL as carrier polymer realized eletrospinnability and generated fibrous POCL/PCL; the thermal cured POCL/PCL still maintained fibrous structure and was endowed with elastic property; moreover, in comparison with pure PCL fiber mat, they exhibited a better resilience and hydrophilicity.