Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) is an aliphatic polyester prepared by the ring-opening polymerisation of caprolactone. Its low melting point and long aliphatic repeat unit give it a high elongation and a slow hydrolysis rate compared with poly(lactic acid) and polyglycolide [1]. The slow degradation suits devices that must remain intact for more than a year, and the polymer therefore appears in long-term implants and in controlled-release matrices [2]. It is miscible with several other polyesters and is often blended to adjust the degradation rate and the mechanical response [3]. The low melting point allows scaffolds and fibres to be produced by melt extrusion and by three-dimensional printing without a solvent, which is convenient when the loaded active substance is moisture-sensitive [4]. The same low melting point limits the sterilisation routes available and restricts the material to service temperatures below roughly sixty degrees [5].
- caprolactone
- ring-opening polymerization
- hydrolysis rate
- polyester
- melt extrusion
- scaffold
- elongation
biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties·Biomaterials·Materials Science·Physical Sciences
References
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- Kahdim, Q.S.; Abdelmoula, N.; Al-Karagoly, H.; Albukhaty, S.; Al-Saaidi, J. Fabrication of a Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Nanofibrous Scaffold Loaded with Nigella sativa Extract for Biomedical Applications. BioTech 2023, 12, 19. [CrossRef]
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- Dias, J.R.; Sousa, A.; Augusto, A.; Bártolo, P.J.; Granja, P.L. Electrospun Polycaprolactone (PCL) Degradation: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study. Polymers 2022, 14, 3397. [CrossRef]