APPLICATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF HYDROPHILIC POLY(CARBONATE)S AS NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE HYDROGEL MATERIALS

Lead Research Organisation: University of Warwick
Department Name: Chemistry

Abstract

This proposal examines the synthesis and application of polymers derived from carbon dioxide as novel biodegradable hydrogel materials. Hydrogels are an important class of material that find numerous applications including tissue engineering and drug-delivery. The application of mechanically strong yet degradable materials such as poly(carbonate)s will provide improved materials in this arena. In addition to the importance of the final products resulting from this work, the proposal also deals with the development of new technology for the utilization of carbon dioxide as a chemical feedstock. The synthesis of hydrophilic poly(carbonate)s remains a significant challenge. Recent advances in catalyst technology have seen the realization of extremely active metal complexes for the alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide with propylene oxide and this proposal will study the optimization of these systems for a range of new substituted hydrophilic and latent hydrophilic monomer feedstocks. In addition this proposal will, for the first time, examine the synthesis of multi-functional and responsive poly(carbonate)s by this methodology. The combination of these fundamental studies will result in the application of several novel copolymers in hydrogel synthesis allowing the production, characterization and evaluation of the properties of these highly novel materials as a function of polymer functionality and structure.
 
Description The proposed research aimed to address the utilization of CO2 in high value medical materials. CO2 is an abundant resource however its low reactivity mean that, while some solutions have been found for its incoporation into larger molecules, the process is costly. Amongst the most succesful methods for CO2 utilization is its incorporation into poly(carbonate)s. However the lack of functional groups on the polymer side-chains has limited the study of these polymers in advanced, high value applications such as in biomedical materials. Specifically, the high hydrolytic stability of poly(carbonate)s in combination with their biodegradation behaviour makes them ideal for study as constituents of biodegradable hydrogel materials. To this end, the proposed research addressed challenges in the synthesis of poly(carbonate)s with pendant functionality that can be readily functionalised to form hydrogel materials and demonstrated their use in this regard.
Exploitation Route The materials developed are of high interest for delivery and materials engineering applications.
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Environment,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
 
Description The work undertaken in this grant was developed into 3D printable resins for degradable materials through the award of another EPSRC grant and has since been taken forward to form the basis of a new start up company focussed on medical devices
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Chemicals,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Economic
 
Description Designer degradable polymers for the delivery of biological therapeutics
Amount £121,053 (GBP)
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2012 
End 09/2016