Synthesis of Poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-Glucose) via Direct Polycondensation and its Characterization

Directly using cheap D,L-lactic acid (D,L-LA) and glucose (Glu) as starting materials, biodegradable material poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-Glucose) [P(D,L-LA-co-Glu)] was synthesized via melt polycondensation. When n(Glu) : n(D,L-LA) = 1:200, the appropriate synthetic condition is that: after 120 degrees C prepolymerization for 5 h, 160 degrees C melt polymerization catalyzed by w(SnCl2) = 0.5% for 5 h. P(D,L-LA-co-Glu) with different molar feed ratios were synthesized and characterized with [eta], FTIR, H-1 NMR, GPC and XRD. The T-g of all copolymer P(D,L-LA-co-Glu) was lower than that of homopolymer polylactic acid directly synthesized via melt polycondensation. The copolymers with M-w from 2,100 Da to 5,100 Da could meet the demand of drug delivery carrier material.