DL-lactide-epsilon-coprolactone copolymers
AssigneePolyganics B.V.
InventorsCatharina Everdina Hissink, Theodorus Adrianus C. Flipsen, Hans Wicher Kuijper, Rob Steendam
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Abstract
The present invention relates to specific DL-lactide-ε-caprolactone copolymers and the application of these polymers in the production of biodegradable medical applications. According to the present invention a polymeric material comprising poly(DL-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) is provided, which is obtained by the copolymerization of DL-lactide and ε-caprolactone, having a lactide content of 51-75 mol %, most preferably of 62-69 mol %. The materials of the present invention have excellent mechanical properties and may be used to provide articles for medical application, in particular nerve guides.
Claims10
Polymeric material comprising a poly(DL-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymer obtained by the copolymerization of DL-lactide and ε-caprolactone, which copolymer has a lactide content of 51-75 mol %, preferably of 55-70 mol %, most preferably of 62-69 mol %.
Polymeric material according to any of the previous claims, having a polydispersity (Mw/Mn) of less than 1.8, preferably of less than 1.5.
Polymeric material according to any of the previous claims, having an intrinsic viscosity of more than 4 dl/g, preferably of more than 5 dl/g, most preferably of more than 5.5 dl/g.
Polymeric material according to any of the previous claims, which is obtained by carrying out said polymerization at a temperature of 100° C.-130° C., preferably of 110-120° C.
Polymeric material according to any of the previous claims, which is obtained by carrying out said polymerization during a period of 3-40 days, wherein the temperature is preferably chosen linearly depending on the polymerization time from the interval:
- 130° C. (at 3 days) to 100° C. (at 40 days).
Polymeric material according to any of the previous claims, which is obtained by carrying out said polymerization using a catalyst, preferably an Sn(oct)2 catalyst, in an amount such that the molar ratio of lactide and ε-caprolactone monomers to said catalyst (M/I) is from 1000-100000, preferably from 9000-12000.
Article for medical application, comprising a polymeric material according to any of the previous claims.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.