Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(glycerol sebacate)

Biomacromolecules. 2022 Jan 10;23(1):398-408. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c01351. Epub 2021 Dec 22.

Abstract

This study demonstrated that immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (N435) catalysis in bulk leads to higher molecular weight poly(glycerol sebacate), PGS, than self-catalyzed condensation polymerization. Since the glass-transition temperature, fragility, modulus, and strength for rubbery networks are inversely dependent on the concentration of chain ends, higher molecular weight PGS prepolymers will enable the preparation of cross-linked PGS matrices with unique mechanical properties. The evolution of molecular species during the prepolymerization step conducted at 120 °C for 24 h, prior to enzyme addition, revealed regular decreases in sebacic acid and glycerol-sebacate dimer with corresponding increases in oligomers with chain lengths from 3 to 7 units such that a homogeneous liquid substrate has resulted. At 67 h, for N435-catalyzed PGS synthesis, the carboxylic acid conversion reached 82% without formation of a gel fraction, and number-average molecular weight (Mn) and weight-average molecular weight (Mw) values reached 6000 and 59 400 g/mol, respectively. In contrast, self-catalyzed PGS condensation polymerizations required termination at 55 h to avoid gelation, reached 72% conversion, and Mn and Mw values of 2600 and 13 800 g/mol, respectively. We also report the extent that solvent fractionation can enrich PGS in higher molecular weight chains. The use of methanol as a nonsolvent increased Mn and Mw by 131.7 and 18.3%, respectively, and narrower dispersity (Đ) decreased by 47.7% relative to the nonfractionated product.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Decanoates* / chemistry
  • Glycerol* / analogs & derivatives
  • Glycerol* / chemistry
  • Lipase
  • Polymers

Substances

  • Decanoates
  • Polymers
  • poly(glycerol-sebacate)
  • Lipase
  • Glycerol