Resumen de Síntesis y caracterización de nuevas poliesteramidas biodegradables
The general goal of the present work is the development of new poly(ester amide)s with potential applications in the biomedical field.
In this thesis the preparation and characterization of two new families of biodegradable poly(ester amide)s are studied. In this way, a new synthesis method based on a thermal polycondensation with formation of a metal halide salt as a driving force has been developed. The first studied family of polymers is constituted by alternating poly(ester amide)s derived from glycolic acid and ù-amino acids. The second group includes sequential poly(ester amide)s constituted by glycolic acid, diamines and dicarboxylic acid units. Lysine was also considered as a possible diamine, since it may bring functionalized lateral groups that enhances the potential applicability of the resulting polymer. An alternative synthesis route for the second series has also been applied according to the procedure previously described in the literature. The synthesis results have been compared as well as some properties of the final polymers. It is worth to indicate that the new methodology based on the thermal polycondensation is easier, cheaper and avoids the use of toxic solvents. Furthermore, polymerization yields are high and final polymers show film and fibre forming properties. A particular feature of this new methodology is that a composite formed by a mixture of polymer and inorganic salt crystals is directly obtained from the synthesis process. Those crystals may be subsequently washed out, leaving a porous material with potential interest for applications in tissue engineering. All the products obtained through the different synthetic routes have been identified by means of nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the kinetics of the thermal polycondensation reaction and the thermal properties of the final products have been studied employing differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis.
