The Effect of Polymer Composition on the Gelation Behavior of PLGA-g-PEG Biodegradable Thermoreversible Gels
Graft copolymers consisting of a poly(DL-lactic acid–co–glycolic acid) backbone grafted with polyethyelene glycol (PLGA-g-PEG) side chains were synthesized and formed thermoreversible gels in aqueous solutions which exhibited solution behavior at low temperature and sol-gel transitions at higher temperature. The composition of the polymer and relative amounts of polylactic acid (LA), glycolic acid (GA), and ethylene glycol (EG) could be varied by controlling the precursor concentrations and reaction temperature. The gelation temperature could be systematically tailored from 15°C to 34°C by increasing the concentration of PEG in the graft copolymer. The gelation temperature decreased with increasing polymer molecular weight and decreasing polymer 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.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 958472
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-59333; TRN: US201002%%48
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A, 89A(1):248-254, Vol. 89A, Issue 1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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