Soybean Oil-Based Photo-Crosslinked Polymer Networks

Novel soybean oil-based crosslinked polymer networks were prepared by UV photopolymerization and their mechanical properties were evaluated. Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diacrylate (PCLDA) were synthesized and used as crosslinking agent to form crosslinked polymer networks by UV-initiated free-radical polymerization with acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO). The synthesis of acrylate end-capped macromers was confirmed using FT-IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopic techniques. Photopolymerization time, the composition of reaction mixture, and the type and length of crosslinking agent were changed to obtain crosslinked polymer networks with various mechanical properties. Polymers prepared from AESO and PCL degraded 6% of the initial weight in 24 days in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) containing lipase enzyme. These potentially biodegradable and biocompatible polymers can be used as ecofriendly materials for biomedical and other applications to replace the existing petroleum-based polymers currently used.