Biodegradable and hydrodegradable diblock copolymers composed of poly( beta -hydroxyalkanoates) and poly(lactones) or poly(lactide) chain segments

摘要

A biodegradable and hydrodegradable diblock copolymer includes a naturally-occurring poly( beta -alkanoate) component and a chemically synthesized polyester component formed by ring-opening polymerization. A method of forming the biodegradable and hydrodegradable diblock copolymer having a poly( beta -hydroxyalkanoate) component and a chemically synthesized polyester component includes exposing a naturally-occurring poly( beta -hydroxyalkanoate) to alcoholysis and then to a trialkyl metal to form a dialkyl metal poly( beta -hydroxyalkanoate) macroinitiator. The macroinitiator is then reacted with a lactone or lactide reactant to form the biodegradable and hydrodegradable diblock copolymer.