BIOMATERIALS BASED ON TRIMETHYLENE CARBONATE UNITS. NANOCOMPOSITES OF POLYESTERS AND POLY(ESTER AMIDE)S WITH APPLICATIONS AS COMMODITIES
The study of copolymers derived from trimethylene carbonate units is one of the two main objectives of this project. We are interested in the comprenhension of the influence of microstructure and composition on final properties. The first goal is focused to obtain useful information to design new biomaterials with tailored properties.
These materials may be applied as bioabsorbable surgical sutures, drug delivery matrices and scaffolds. In the first case, we would like to mention our fruitful collaboration of R&D with B.Braun Surgical, one of the leader companies in the development of commercial sutures. Copolymers will be synthesized with different distributions of hard and soft segments. Thus, samples may be characterized by an elastomeric behavior or a high tensile strenght, which make materials suitable for use as scaffolds or sutures, respectively. As far as the latter is concerned, we will also pay attention to the effect of adding nanofibers, accelerating or retardant agents for degradation, and compounds with pharmacological activity.
The second main objective is the study of nanocomposites prepared from degradable polyesters and poly(ester amide)s. We have previously conducted extensive work concerning synthesis, characterization and evaluation of structure, properties and crystallization behavior of such polymers. We are interested in the improvement of properties and the possibility to produce degradable useful materials for commodity applications. We also aim to clarify the influence of nanoparticles on crystallization processes, which is not well understood yet, and other theoretical aspects.
These materials may be applied as bioabsorbable surgical sutures, drug delivery matrices and scaffolds. In the first case, we would like to mention our fruitful collaboration of R&D with B.Braun Surgical, one of the leader companies in the development of commercial sutures. Copolymers will be synthesized with different distributions of hard and soft segments. Thus, samples may be characterized by an elastomeric behavior or a high tensile strenght, which make materials suitable for use as scaffolds or sutures, respectively. As far as the latter is concerned, we will also pay attention to the effect of adding nanofibers, accelerating or retardant agents for degradation, and compounds with pharmacological activity.
The second main objective is the study of nanocomposites prepared from degradable polyesters and poly(ester amide)s. We have previously conducted extensive work concerning synthesis, characterization and evaluation of structure, properties and crystallization behavior of such polymers. We are interested in the improvement of properties and the possibility to produce degradable useful materials for commodity applications. We also aim to clarify the influence of nanoparticles on crystallization processes, which is not well understood yet, and other theoretical aspects.
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