Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Biodegradable Copolymer, Poly(aspartic acid-co-lactic acid)

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 34 - 43
• Main Authors: Shinoda, Hosei, Asou, Yukiko, Suetsugu, Akio, Tanaka, Kimiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.01.2003; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: Aminoacid polymers; Applied sciences; biodegradable; copolymerization; drug delivery systems; Exact sciences and technology; Physicochemistry of polymers; renewable resources; Synthetic biopolymers; Biological properties; Lactone copolymer; Property composition relationship; Molecular structure; Biodegradability; Cyclopolymerization; Lactic acid copolymer; Condensation polymerization; Aspartic derivative copolymer; Experimental study; In vitro; Hydrolysis; Chemical modification; Preparation; Aspartic acid; Imide copolymer; Carboxylate copolymer; Aliphatic copolymer; Amphiphilic polymer
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200390007

An amphiphilic biodegradable polymer, poly(aspartic acid‐co‐lactic acid) (PAL), was synthesized by simply heating a mixture of aspartic acid (Asp) and L‐lactide without additional catalysts or solvents. The unique branched architecture comprising succinimide units and lactic acid units was confirmed by IR and NMR spectroscopy. A copolymer of sodium aspartate and lactic acid (PALNa) was prepared by reacting PAL with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The PAL was soluble in many organic solvents, while the PALNa was soluble in methanol and water. The hydrolytic degradation behavior of PAL varied with the copolymer composition. A higher Asp content resulted in a faster molecular weight decrease, and introducing glycolic acid units accelerated the degradation rate. Microphotograph of microsphere of PAL‐1/5.