Polymer Bulletin, Vol.32, No.5-6, 509-515, 1994
Incorporation of Salicylates into Poly(L-Lactide)
Recent studies have indicated that complications like swelling and inflammation of the surrounding tissue may occur in the late stage of the in vivo degradation of semi-crystalline PLLA bone fixation devices. Incorporation of an anti-inflammatory drug, like a salicylate, in the poly(L-lactide) chain might be a route to prevent these complications. In this study, it has been shown that it is possible to copolymerize L-lactide with di- and trisalicylide and to use salicylic acid as an initiator for the L-lactide polymerization or the L-lactide/epsilon-caprolactone copolymerization. Furthermore, PLLA was blended with poly(salicylic acid) and Zn(salicylate)2 was synthesized and turned out to be a catalyst for the ring opening polymerization of L-lactide. The binary poly(L-lactide)/o-acetyl salicylic acid system has an eutectic composition for 52 % w/w of poly(L-lactide) in the mixture, Its eutectic melting temperature is 119-degrees-C.