Effect of PLGA block molecular weight on gelling temperature of PLGA-PEG-PLGA thermoresponsive copolymers

Thermoresponsive, biodegradable polymeric hydrogel networks are used widely in medicinal applications. Poly(d,l-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(d,l-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) triblock copolymers exhibit a sol-gel transition upon heating. The effect of PLGA block and PEG chain molecular weights (MWs) on the gelling temperature of polymer aqueous solution (20% w/w) is described. All polymer solutions convert into a hard gel within 2 degrees C of the gelling temperature. The release properties of the gels were displayed using paracetamol as a representative drug. A linear relation is described between the gelling temperature and PLGA block MW. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 35-39