Porous Scaffolds from High Molecular Weight Polyesters Synthesized via Enzyme-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerization

Several aliphatic polyesters have been synthesized until now using enzyme-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROP)of different lactones, although their molecular weight, hence mechanical strength, was not sufficient enough to fabricate porous scaffolds from them. To achieve this target, 1,5-dioxepan-2-one (DXO)and ¤-caprolactone (CL)were polymerized in bulk with Lipase CA as catalyst at 60 °C, and porous scaffolds were prepared from the polymers obtained thereof using a salt leaching technique. The CL/DXO molar feed ratio was varied from 1.5 to 10, and the reactivity ratios of CL and DXO were determined using the Kelen-Tudos method under such conditions of polymerization. NMR results showed a slightly lower CL/DXO molar ratio in the copolymers than in the feed due to high reactivity of DXO toward Lipase CA catalysis. The crystallinity of the PCL segment of the copolymers was affected by the presence of soft and amorphous DXO domains. The copolymers having high CL content were thermally more stable. The porosity of the scaffolds was in the range 82-88