Microwave-assisted Polymerization of D,L-Lactide with Stannous Octanoate as Catalyst

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) was synthesized by microwave-assisted ring-opening polymerization of D, L-lactide with stannous octanoate (SnOct(2)) as catalyst. Its weight-average molar mass (M-w) ranged from 39000 to 67000 and the polydispersity index from 1.3 to 1.7. The polymerization rate was much faster than that of the conventional thermal polymerization. A degradation of newly formed PLA in reaction mixture by microwave irradiation was observed.

Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-g-poly- (D, L-lactic acid) Copolymer

Biodegradable chitosan-g-poly (D, L-lactic acid) copolymers were prepared via two methods. (1) The lactide was grafted onto hydroxyl groups of chitosan by using macromolecular initiator sodium of trimethylsilyl-chitosan, (2) poly (D,L-lactic acid)(PLA) with low molecular weight can be linked to the amino group by coupling activated PLA to trimethylsilyl-chitosan. Two graft copolymers had hydrophilic-hydrophobic character and can be applied as carriers for drug delivery.

THE RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF D,L-LACTIDE WITH ONE COMPONENT RARE EARTH CATALYST

(D, L)-Lactide (LA) was first polymerized with one component of rare earth catalysts [Nd(naph)(3), Nd(oct)(3), Nd(O-iPr)(3), Nd(AcAc)(3), Y(AcAc)(3), Sm(AcAc)(3), Er(AcAc)(3))] respectively in solution and in melt state. The effects of [Cat]/[La] molar ratio, solvents, polymerization time, temperature, various rare earth Elements and ligands were investigated in detail. The results showed that both the conversion of polymerization and the molecular weight (MW) of poly (D, L-Lactide) (PLA) in melt polymerization are higher than that in solution polymerization, but the polymerization rate in melt was lower than in solution. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of PLA is broader with increasing temperature. X-ray study indicated that PLA obtained by Nd(AcAc)(3) in melt polymerization is an amorphous polymer.

The biological fate of the polymer nanocarrier material monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactic acid)in rat

Monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactic acid)(PEG-PLA)is a typical amphiphilic di-block copolymer widely used as a nanoparticle carrier(nanocarrier)in drug delivery.Understanding the in vivo fate of PEG-PLA is required to evaluate its overall safety and promote the development of PEG-PLA-based nanocarrier drug delivery systems.However,acquiring such understanding is limited by the lack of a suitable analytical method for the bioassay of PEG-PLA.In this study,the pharmacokinetics,biodistribution,metabolism and excretion of PEG-PLA were investigated in rat after intravenous administration.The results show that unchanged PEG-PLA is mainly distributed to spleen,liver,and kidney before being eliminated in urine over 48 h mainly(>80%)in the form of its PEG metabolite.Our study provides a clear and comprehensive picture of the in vivo fate of PEG-PLA which we anticipate will facilitate the scientifc design and safety evaluation of PEG-PLA-based nanocarrier drug delivery systems and thereby enhance their clinical development.

Process conditions for preparing well-defined nano- and microparticles as delivery systems of alkyl gallates

Dextran-covered poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) nano-and microparticles were prepared using an emulsion/solvent evaporation (or diffusion) process for the encapsulation of alkyl gallates (AGs).In the first step,a solution of PLA and AG in ethyl acetate was emulsified to give an aqueous phase containing a hydrophobically modified dextran,which acted as a stabilizer.The second step involved solvent evaporation or diffusion.The emulsification conditions were varied,which allowed for the preparation of nanoand microparticle suspensions covering a wide range of surface-average particle diameters from 0.1 μm (sonication) to 500 μm (stirring with a magnetic bar),with narrow and reproducible size distributions.Continuous microfluidic emulsification in a flow-focusing system led to well-defined microparticles,in the 10-50 μm range.Particles loaded with octyl gallate (OG) and nonyl gallate (NG) were obtained using the three processes,and we showed that the encapsulation efficiency of OG and NG varied significantly depending on the emulsification process.The effect of particle size on the mechanism of in vitro release of encapsulated AGs was investigated.The kinetics of release were controlled either by Fickian diffusion within the solid core or swelling and hydrolytic degradation of the PLA matrix,depending on the pH of the external medium.

Tissue engineering and peripheral nerve regeneration (Ⅲ)——Sciatic nerve regeneration with PDLLA nerve guide

The biodegradation rate and biocompatibility of poly(d, / -lactide) (PDLLA) in vivo were evaluated. The aim of this study was to establish a nerve guide constructed by the PDLLA with 3-D microenvironment and to repair a 10 mm of sciatic nerve gap in rats. The process of the nerve regeneration was investigated by histological assessment, electrophysiological examination, and determination of wet weight recovery rate of the gastrocnemius muscle. After 3 weeks, the nerve guide had changed from a transparent to an opaque status. The conduit was degraded and absorbed partly and had lost their strength with breakage at the 9th week of postoperation. At the conclusion of 12 weeks, proximal and distal end of nerves were anastomosed by nerve regeneration and the conduit vanished completely. The results suggest that PDLLA conduits may serve for peripheral nerve regeneration and PDLLA is a sort of hopeful candidate for tissue engineering.