Lactide-Caprolactone Polymer Blend for Elastic Biodegradable Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hyperelastic polymers are either non-degradable or have limited shape stability and biocompatibility, and the synthesis of triblock copolymers is complex, while existing manufacturing processes like 3D-printing and electrospinning face challenges in achieving precise geometry and material properties.
Innovation Solution
A polymer blend comprising a copolymer of poly(ε-caprolactone) and lactide with stereocomplexes forming physical crosslinks, allowing for high elasticity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, processed through electrospinning to create porous, non-woven fibrous structures with adjustable mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If vulcanized elastomers such as rubber are used to achieve hyperelasticity, then high elasticity is obtained, but hydrolytic degradability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymers with specific lactide content (20-80 mol%) instead of traditional rubber, achieving both hyperelasticity and hydrolytic degradability through compositional modification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymeric system combining poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymers with specific ratios of L-lactide and D-lactide units, forming a material that exhibits both elastic properties and biodegradability through the synergistic effect of its components
2Strength
If triblock copolymers are synthesized to achieve high elasticity with elongations at break of more than 700%, then hyperelasticity is obtained, but the synthesis complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential functional components (poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymers with specific stereochemical composition) from the complex triblock copolymer structure, achieving hyperelasticity through a simpler binary blend system rather than multi-step copolymer synthesis
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of synthesizing complex triblock copolymers to achieve hyperelasticity, the patent inverts the approach by using a binary blend of simpler copolymers with controlled stereochemical composition, where the stereocomplex formation between L-lactide and D-lactide units provides the necessary elastic properties
3Stability of the object's composition
If poly(para dioxanone) is used to achieve good crystallite formation with Tm of about 100-110° C., then shape stability is improved, but hydrolytic degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure parameters by using poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymers with specific lactide content and stereochemical composition, achieving a balance between crystallite stability (Tm 100-175°C) and reduced hydrolytic degradation compared to poly(para dioxanone)
4Stability of the object's composition
If polylactide is used to achieve crystallite formation with Tm of 140-175° C., then shape stability is improved, but the crystallisation rate becomes very slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates chiral catalysts or nucleating agents in the polymerization process to pre-establish the conditions for rapid stereocomplex formation, enabling fast crystallization of the poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) blend while maintaining high melting point crystallites
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the kinetic parameters by controlling the stereochemical composition (ratio of L-lactide to D-lactide units) and molecular weight of the copolymers, optimizing the balance between crystallization rate and crystallite stability through compositional modification
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The polymer blend exhibits high elongation at break, shape stability, and low creeping, with easy synthesis and processing, enabling the production of highly elastic, biodegradable, and biocompatible materials suitable for complex three-dimensional objects with precise geometry.
Implementation Method 1
the polymer blend comprises or consists of: (A) a first polymer component, being a copolymer having a substantially random, partially blocky structure... and (B) a second polymer component... wherein the first and second polymer components (A) and (B) are selected such that the resulting polymer blend comprises a combination of constitution units derived from L-lactide and constitution units derived from D-lactide
Implementation Method 2
stereocomplexes forming physical crosslinks, allowing for high elasticity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility
Implementation Method 3
processed through electrospinning to create porous, non-woven fibrous structures with adjustable mechanical properties
Data Source
AI summary
A polymer blend is provided, comprising or consisting of: (A) a first polymer component, being a copolymer having a substantially random, partially blocky structure and selected from poly[(L-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and poly[(D-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and (B) a second polymer component different from the first polymer component (A) selected from poly(L-lactide), poly(D-lactide), poly[(L-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and poly[(D-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)], wherein the first and second polymer components (A) and (B) are selected such that the resulting polymer blend comprises a combination of constitution units derived from L-lactide and constitution units derived from D-lactide. The highly elastic material may be processed by electrospinning to produce elastic porous objects having a non-woven fibrous structure.