Recent Developments in Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactones for Biomedical Applications

Properties of lactic acid based polymers and their correlation with composition

Si-based Li-ion battery anodes offer specific capacity an order of magnitude beyond that of conventional graphite. However, the formation of stable Si anodes is a challenge because of significant volume changes occuring during their electrochemical alloying and dealloying with Li. Binder selection and optimization may allow significant improvements in the stability of Si-based anodes. Most studies of Si anodes have involved the use of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) binders. Herein, we show for the first time that pure poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), possessing certain mechanical properties comparable to those of CMC but containing a higher concentration of carboxylic functional groups, may offer superior performance as a binder for Si anodes. We further show the positive impact of carbon coating on the stability of the anode. The carbon-coated Si nanopowder anodes, tested between 0.01 and 1 V vs Li/Li+ and containing as little as 15 wt % of PAA, showed excellent stability duri...

Toward Efficient Binders for Li-Ion Battery Si-Based Anodes: Polyacrylic Acid

Novel aliphatic polyesters with pendent acetylene groups were prepared by controlled ring-opening polymerization and subsequently used for grafting poly(ethylene glycol) and oligopeptide moieties by the Cu(I)-catalyzed addition of azides and alkynes, a type of “click” chemistry. These aliphatic polyesters possess an acetylene graft density that can be tailored by ring-opening copolymerization of α-propargyl-δ-valerolactone (1) with e-caprolactone. Since the mild conditions associated with the click reaction are shown to be compatible with the polyester backbone, this method is a generally useful means for grafting numerous types of functionality onto aliphatic polyesters. The amphiphilic graft polyesters prepared in this study are shown to be biocompatible by in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation, suggesting their suitability for a range of biomaterial applications.

PEG- and peptide-grafted aliphatic polyesters by click chemistry.

The synthesis of aliphatic polyesters by polycondensation and ring-opening polymerization is reviewed. This includes homopolyesters, random, block, graft, star, and hyper-branched (co)polyesters. Recent progress in the synthesis of high molecular weight aliphatic polyesters is described. Specific properties of these polymers are also given. The biomedical and ecological applications of these biodegradable polymers show their technological importance and relevance.

Aliphatic Polyesters: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Block and random copolymers of ε-caprolactone

Blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) with polyamide 6: interfacial adhesion, morphology and mechanical properties

Ethylene polymerisation by a high activity MgCl2 supported Ti catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and/or 1-octene

Synthesis and characterization of hydrogenated poly[alkylmethacrylate(-b-styrene)-b-butadiene-b-(styrene-b-) alkylmethacrylate] triblock and pentablock copolymers

Robert Jéroˆme

Papers

Block and random copolymers of ε-caprolactone

Blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) with polyamide 6: interfacial adhesion, morphology and mechanical properties

Ethylene polymerisation by a high activity MgCl2 supported Ti catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and/or 1-octene

Synthesis and characterization of hydrogenated poly[alkylmethacrylate(-b-styrene)-b-butadiene-b-(styrene-b-) alkylmethacrylate] triblock and pentablock copolymers