Surface segregation assessment in poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymer films

Macromol Biosci. 2010 Mar 10;10(3):317-27. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200900284.

Abstract

The ability to predict the in vivo performance of multiblock-copolymer-based biomaterials is crucial for their applicability in the biomedical field. In this work, XPS analysis of PCL-PEG copolymers was carried out, as well as morphological and wettability evaluations by SEM and CA measurements, respectively. XPS analysis on films equilibrated in PBS demonstrated a further enrichment in the PEG component on the surface. Copolymer films obtained by casting using different solvents showed a dependence in segregation according to the solvent employed. Cell adhesion tests demonstrated the importance of copolymer segregation and rearrangement in a wet environment, with a dependence of these phenomena on the copolymer molecular weight.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Shape / drug effects
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Ethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Ethylene Glycols / pharmacology
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / ultrastructure
  • Materials Testing / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Weight
  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polyesters / pharmacology
  • Solvents
  • Surface Properties / drug effects
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Ethylene Glycols
  • Polyesters
  • Solvents
  • poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)