title: Synthesis of PCEC Copolymers with Controlled Molecular Weight Using Full Factorial Methodology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polyester and has attracted attention as a suitable carrier for development of controlled drug delivery due to its non-toxicity and biocompatibility. It has been reported that the biodegradability of PCL can be enhanced by copolymerization with PEG. Molecular weight (Mw) and CL block lengths optimization in a series of synthesized PCEC copolymers was the main purpose of this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The composition of copolymers was designed using full factorial methodology. Molecular weight of used PEG (4 levels) and weight ratio of epsilon-caprolactone/PEG (3 levels) were selected as independent variables. The PCEC copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization. Formation of copolymers was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy as well as H-NMR. The Mn of PCEC copolymers was calculated from HNMR spectra. The thermal behavior of copolymers was characterized on differential scanning calorimeter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Molecular weight of twelve synthesized copolymers was ranged from 1782 to 9264. In order to evaluate the effect of selected variables on the copolymers composition and Mw, a mathematical model for each response parameter with p-value less than 0.001were obtained. Average percent error for prediction of total Mn of copolymers and Mn of CL blocks were 13.81% and 14.88% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the proposed model is significantly valid due to obtained low percent error in Mn prediction of test sets.
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ; Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Barghi
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Davoud
authors: D
authors: Asgari
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ; Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Jaleh
authors: J
authors: Barar
authors: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ; Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Hadi
authors: H
authors: Valizadeh
keywords: Copolymer; Full factorial methodology; Molecular weight; PCEC