Copolymerization of Glycolide and ε-Caprolactone Using 12-Aminolauric Acid Modified Montmorillonite

Poly(glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PGLYCL) nanocomposites were prepared by copolymerization glycolide (GLY) and ε-caprolactone ε-CL) in the presence of varying loadings 12-aminolauric acid (12-ALA)-modified montmorillonite. Copolymerization was successfully achieved based on the increase in polymer molecular weight after the reaction determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The amount of the poly(glycolide) block and poly(ε-caprolactone) block units in the copolymer, identified by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy, suggested that the increase in organo-clay loading cause a reduction GLYL: ε-CLL ratio. The arrangement of the monomers in the polymer products was elucidated to have an ABA triblock structure, where PCL block is the central block and the PGLY is found at both end of the copolymer. The presence of intercalated and exfoliated silicates in the nanocomposites were observed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The biocompatibility of the nanocomposites with NCTC 292 mouse normal fibroblast was high relative to untreated cell cultures using tetrazolium bromide (MTT)-dye reduction assay. (paper)