Biodegradable MPEG-g-Chitosan and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) composite films: Part 1. Preparation and characterization

In this paper, composite films of MPEG-g-Chitosan (MPEG-g-CS) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (MPEG-b-PCL) were prepared by casting/solvent evaporation method. MPEG-b-PCL was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone initiated by MPEG (M-n = 2000). And MPEG-g-CS was synthesized by alkylation of chitosan followed by Schiff base formation. Characterization of composite films was performed by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chemical composition of composite film had strongly influenced the thermal properties, morphology, water absorption and in vitro degradation behavior of films. With the increase of MPEG-g-CS content in composite films, the water absorption and degradation rate increased accordingly. The composite films based on MPEG-g-CS and MPEG-b-PCL prepared in this work might have great potential in the application of wound healing and tissue engineering. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.