Block copolymers of polyphosphoesters and poly(L-lactic acid) for biomedical applications

• Grant number: 14/24383-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: March 02, 2015
• End date: September 01, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Maria Isabel Felisberti
• Grantee: Lívia Mesquita Dias Loiola
• Supervisor: Frederik Roman Wurm
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Max Planck Society, Mainz, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/24821-0 - Biocompatible composites based on amphiphilic copolymers and hydroxyapatite, BP.DD

Abstract

Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) is widely used in polymer-based biomaterials due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, PLLA present some limitations regard to its hydrophobic surface and high crystallinity degree. Polyphosphoesters (PPE) present a structural diversity by varying the chemical groups attached to the phosphorus center, which allows the synthesis of hydrophilic segments. Copolymerization of PLLA with hydrophilic PPE blocks enables the preparation of PLLA-PPE-PLLA biocompatible amphiphilic copolymers with favorable biocompatibility, biodegradability, and controllable hydrophilicity, i.e. suitable candidates for biomedical applications. (AU)