Controlled synthesis and properties of degradable 3D porous lactic acid-based poly(ester-amide)

A novel 3D porous lactic acid-based Poly(ester-amide) (PLPEA) was synthesized via condensation polymerization of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and dicarboxylic-terminated oligoester ELDA. Pores were generated in situ and the porous structure could be controlled with the feed ratio of reagents, which was examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR verified the structures of intermediate and PLPEA. It was found that the mechanical properties of the PLPEA were related well to the porous structure. The tensile strength and bend strength of PLPEA obtained with NCO/COOH of 1.5:1 could be 16.59 and 70.44 MPa, respectively. On the other hand, the thermal of PLPEA was mainly dominated with the chemical compositions. The glass transition temperature and thermal decomposition temperature of PLPEA were 3 and 427 °C (80 wt%), respectively. The weight loss percentage of PLPEA could be 8.5% after 124-days immersing in phosphate-buffer saline at 37 °C, suggested that PLPEA was degradable.