title: Synthesis and surface characterization of functionalized polylactide copolymer microparticles.
abstract: Microparticles of poly(lactide) (PLac) and its copolymers with the amino acids, serine (P(Lac-Ser)), and aspartic acid (P(Lac-Asp)), respectively, were synthesized using the solvent evaporation microemulsion technique. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was added as a non-ionic surfactant to stabilize the particles. The particle sizes are in the range of 200 nm. The surface of the particles was characterized by FTIR transmission spectroscopy under evacuation at room temperature and at 200 degrees C. Hydroxy groups originating from PVA exist on the surfaces of the particles and they were observed at 3506 cm(-1). Free hydroxy groups originating from the serine residue pendant to the copolymer P(Lac-Ser) backbone were observed at 3396 cm(-1). Also, free carboxylic acid groups pendant to the copolymer P(Lac-Asp) backbone, originating from the aspartic acid residue, were observed at 3387 cm(-1). The appearance of the free hydroxy or carboxylic acid groups in the IR spectra also showed that these hydrophilic functional groups moved to the surface of the particles in the process of microemulsion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry at the Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Gonsalves
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Baraton
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D010455:Peptides; D011091:Polyesters; C027794:polyserine; C017645:polyaspartate; C033616:poly(lactide); D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol