Degradation product profiles of melt spun in situ cross-linked poly(ε-caprolactone) fibers

• Published in: Materials chemistry and physics Vol. 156; pp. 82 - 88
• Main Authors: Aminlashgari, Nina, Pal, Jit, Sanwaria, Sunita, Nandan, Bhanu, Srivastava, Rajiv K., Hakkarainen, Minna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-04-2015
• Subjects: Aging; Biomaterials; Electron microscopy; Polymers; Aging; Polymers; Electron microscopy; Biomaterials
• ISSN: 0254-0584; 1879-3312; 1879-3312
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2015.02.028

In situ cross-linking of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fiber with bis-(ε-caprolactone-4-yl) (BCY) was shown to be a feasible approach to compensate for reduction in molar mass of PCL during melt-spinning. The effect of in situ cross-linking on the degradation profile of melt spun PCL fibers with different amounts of BCY was evaluated using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Degradation of the cross-linked fibers was carried out in aqueous medium at 37 °C and 60 °C for different periods of time. The degradation profiles were then compared with uncross-linked fiber and 3D porous cross-linked film of PCL. Interesting differences in the degradation product profiles with linear, cyclic or BCY-related low molar mass compounds were observed, clearly demonstrating the effect of cross-linking and processing on the degradation process and formation of water-soluble products. In addition the degradation product profiles demonstrated that in situ cross-linking is a feasible technique for counteracting degradation reactions during melt-spinning.
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•In situ cross-linked melt-spun PCL fibers were prepared.•The process and cross-linking was clearly detectable from the degradation profile.•Cyclic, linear or BCY-related low molar mass compounds were detected.•Degradation during melt-spinning was controlled by in situ cross-linking.