Synthesis and characterization of poly(1,2-propanediol-co-1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) biodegradable elastomers for tissue engineering.

In this paper, citric acid, 1,8-octanediol and 1,2-propanediol were used as reactive monomers to synthesize poly(1,2-propanediol-co-1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (PPOC) elastomers by melt polycondensation. The PPOC elastomers were characterized by FTIR, H-NMR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hydrophilic test and mechanical test. The results indicated that citric acid had reacted with 1,8-octanediol and 1,2-propanediol, respectively. The sol content, swelling degree and hydrophilicity of PPOC elastomers increased with the higher content of 1,2propanediol, while the tensile strength and the thermal degradation temperature decreased. The results indicate the addition of 1,2-propanediol reduces the crosslinking density and the flexibility of PPOC elastomers.