Functionalization Conditions of PLGA‐PEG‐PLGA Copolymer with Itaconic Anhydride

Abstract Summary: Biodegradable thermosensitive triblock copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(lactic‐ co ‐glycolic acid) (PLGA‐PEG‐PLGA) prepared via ring opening polymerization were modified by itaconic anhydride (ITA), which gives copolymer both reactive double bonds and functional carboxylic acid groups essential for the reaction with biological active material. Functionalization conditions comprising ITA purification, temperature, time and presence of solvent were optimized with the respect to amount of end‐capped ITA. Maximum of 76.6 mol. % of bonded ITA were reached via “one pot” reaction in a bulk at 110 °C after 1.5 h. ITA functionalization thermally stabilized the original copolymer by increasing the initial degradation temperature T d from 284 °C to 294 °C and changing the negative glass transition temperature ( T g = ‐1.8 °C) to positive one up to 2.4 °C. The novel functionalized macromonomer can be cross‐linked either chemically or physically in order to produce new functionalized hydrogel network applicable as biomedical material in tissue engineering.