MRI-visible poly(ε-caprolactone) with controlled contrast agent ratios for enhanced visualization in temporary imaging applications.

Hydrophobic macromolecular contrast agents (MMCAs) are highly desirable to provide safe and efficient magnetic resonance (MR) visibility to implantable medical devices. In this study, we report on the synthesis and evaluation of novel biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)-based MMCAs. Poly(α-propargyl-ε-caprolactone-co-ε-caprolactone)s containing 2, 5, and 10 mol % of propargyl groups have been prepared by ring-opening copolymerization of ε-caprolactone and the corresponding propargylated lactone.

Toward potent antibiofilm degradable medical devices: a generic method for the antibacterial surface modification of polylactide.

The effects of biomaterials on their environment must be carefully modulated in most biomedical applications. Among other approaches, this modulation can be obtained through the modification of the biomaterial surface. This paper proposes a simple and versatile strategy to produce non-leaching antibacterial polylactide (PLA) surfaces without any degradation of the polyester chains.

Synthesis and Ring Opening Polymerization of a New Functional Lactone, α-Iodo-ε-caprolactone: A Novel Route to Functionalized Aliphatic Polyesters.

A new functional lactone, α-iodo-ε-caprolactone (αIεCL), was synthesized from ε-caprolactone by anionic activation using a non-nucleophilic strong base (lithium diisopropylamide) followed by an electrophilic substitution with iodine chloride. Ring-opening (co)polymerizations of the resulting monomer with ε-caprolactone were carried out using tin 2-ethylhexanoate as a catalyst in toluene at 100 °C. Homopolymerization of αIεCL was achieved, and poly(αIεCL) was fully characterized by SEC, (1) H NMR and elemental analysis.