title: The effect of polymer composition on the gelation behavior of PLGA-g-PEG biodegradable thermoreversible gels.
abstract: Graft copolymers consisting of a poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) backbone grafted with polyethylene glycol side chains were synthesized and formed thermoreversible gels in aqueous solutions that exhibited solution behavior at low temperature and sol-to-gel transitions at higher temperature. The composition of the polymer and relative amounts of polylactic acid, glycolic acid, and ethylene glycol were varied by controlling the precursor concentrations and reaction temperature. The gelation temperature could be systematically tailored from 15 to 34 degrees C by increasing the concentration of polyethylene glycol in the graft copolymer. The gelation temperature also depended on the polymer molecular weight and concentration. This work has importance for the development of water soluble gels with tailored compositions and gelation temperatures for use in tissue engineering and as injectable depots for drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory-Materials Science, Richland, Washington 99352, USA. bjtarasevich@pnl.gov
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Tarasevich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutowska
authors.forename: X S
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: B-M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D044367:Phase Transition; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D012212:Rheology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005782:Gels; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols