title: Degradable rosin-ester-caprolactone graft copolymers.
abstract: We have carried out the synthesis of side-chain rosin-ester-structured poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) through a combination of ring-opening polymerization and click chemistry. Rosin structures are shown to be effectively incorporated into each repeat unit of caprolactone. This simple and versatile methodology does not require sophisticated purification of raw renewable biomass from nature. The rosin properties have been successfully imparted to the PCL polymers. The bulky hydrophenanthrene group of rosin increases the glass-transition temperature of PCL by >100 °C, whereas the hydrocarbon nature of rosin structures provides PCL excellent hydrophobicity with contact angle very similar to polystyrene and very low water uptake. The rosin-containing PCL graft copolymers exhibit full degradability and good biocompatibility. This study illustrates a general strategy to prepare a new class of renewable hydrocarbon-rich degradable biopolymers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Kejian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Jifu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wujie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chunpeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fuxiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Chuanbing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D057930:Click Chemistry; D004952:Esters / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D044366:Transition Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004952:Esters; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012116:Resins, Plant; D014867:Water; C016240:polycaprolactone; C013893:rosin