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Mapping the synthesis and the impact of low molecular weight PLGA-g-PEG on sol–gel properties to design hierarchical porous scaffolds

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Abstract

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)-functionalized poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) porous scaffolds have shown promising results in bone tissue regeneration studies. It is believed that even better results are achieved by hierarchical porous scaffolds and a designed sequential release of growth factors. We therefore synthesized (l-lactide-co-glycolide)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-g-PEG) oligomers which could be injected into PLCL porous scaffolds. They were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization and carefully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The sol–gel transition temperature, pH, and functional life were determined and correlated with the molecular structure of PLGA-g-PEG. We found that low molecular weight PLGA-g-PEG was obtained and poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether) (PLGA-MPEG) appeared to contribute to gelation. It was possible to design a system that formed a hydrogel within 1 min at 37 °C with a pH between 6 and 7 and with a functional life of around 1 month. These low molecular weight thermosensitive PLGA-g-PEG oligomers, which can be injected into PLCL scaffolds, appear promising for bone tissue engineering applications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from KTH, Royal Institute of Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    Jenny Fagerland & Anna Finne-Wistrand

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  1. Jenny Fagerland
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  2. Anna Finne-Wistrand
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Correspondence to Anna Finne-Wistrand.

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Fagerland, J., Finne-Wistrand, A. Mapping the synthesis and the impact of low molecular weight PLGA-g-PEG on sol–gel properties to design hierarchical porous scaffolds. J Polym Res 21, 337 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-013-0337-8

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