Synthesis of elastic biodegradable polyesters of ethylene glycol and butylene glycol from sebacic acid

High molecular weight biodegradable polyesters were prepared from sebacic acid, ethylene glycol and butylene glycol through a simple non-solvent polycondensation with a low toxicity catalyst. The successful synthesis of the polyesters was confirmed by gel permeation chromatography, H-1-nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopies and differential scanning calorimetry. The degradation tests were performed at 37 degrees C in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) and showed a mass loss of similar to 5% over 12 weeks compared with only 2% for polycaprolactone (PCL). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results following culture of osteoblasts on the polymer surface showed that poly(ethylene sebacate) and poly(butylene sebacate) films were optimal for osteoblast formation in terms of Runx 2 and osteocalcin gene expression. (c) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.