10-Undecenoic acid-based biodegradable hydroxy polyesters: a platform for aminoacid bioconjugates and PEG-derived amphiphilic copolymers.

Identifier:  TDX:2859

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2859

Authors:  Valverde Sarmiento, Carmen

Abstract:
Currently biopolymers experienced a great development due to the high prices and decrease of petroleum reserves along with the concern increasing in terms of environmental sustainability. Aliphatic polyesters are among the most studied polymers from renewable resources, because they are considered very suitable for applications as biomaterials due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this thesis, renewable polyesters have been prepared from derivatives of vegetable castor oil and using sustainable chemistry. Specifically, 10-undecenoic acid has been used to synthesize the monomers which contain carboxylic acid and epoxide or alcohol. These monomers by polymerization lead to linear or branched polymers with available reactive hydroxyl groups. It has been shown that these polymers are enzymatically and hydrolytically degradable. In addition, these polyesters have been modified with different biomolecules as aminoacids. Finally, using enzymes as catalyst have been synthesized block and grafted copolyesters from these monomers or polyesters and polyethylene glycol derivatives. As result, amphiphilic polymers capable of forming micelles have been synthesized, which can encapsulate drugs to be released.