ma5b00585_si_001.pdf (3.57 MB)
A Library of Thermoresponsive, Coacervate-Forming Biodegradable Polyesters
journal contribution
posted on 2015-06-23, 00:00 authored by John P. Swanson, Leanna
R. Monteleone, Fadi Haso, Philip J. Costanzo, Tianbo Liu, Abraham JoyWe report on a new class of thermoresponsive
biodegradable polyesters (TR-PE) inspired by polyacrylamides and elastin-like proteins (ELPs). The polyesters
display reversible phase transition with tunable cloud point temperatures
(Tcp) in aqueous solution as evidenced
by UV–vis spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and DLS measurements.
These polyesters form coacervate droplets above their lower critical
solution temperature (LCST). The Tcp of
the polyesters is influenced by the solutes such as urea, SDS, and
NaCl. The Tcp of the copolymers shows
a linear correlation with the composition of the polyesters indicating
the ability to tune the phase change temperature. We also show that
such thermoresponsive coacervates are capable of encapsulating small
molecules such as Nile Red. Furthermore, the polyesters are hydrolytically
degradable.