Synthesis and characterization of saturated and unsaturated poly(alkylene tartrate)s and further cross-linking

Saturated and unsaturated polyesters based on L-tartaric acid were prepared and characterized. Two kinds of low molecular weight polyesters were synth esized by the reaction of L-tartaric acid and 1-12 dodecandiol and 1-8 octa nediol. Three different kinds of low molecular weight unsaturated polyester s were synthesized by the reaction of L-tartaric acid, 1-12 dodecandiol, an d maleic anhydride. The saturated and unsaturated polymers were characteriz ed by means of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR), infrared analysis (IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimet ry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These functionalized polyme rs were thermally cross-linked in the presence of a radical initiator and w ith 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and/or poly(ethylene glycol ethyl et her methacrylate) (PEGEEM) to prepare cross-linked polymers for biomedical applications. The films were characterized by means of DSC, TGA, and FTIR. The glass transition temperatures (T-g) of the polymers increase with incre asing alkene group length and for the presence of the double bonds. The tra nsition temperatures of the cross-linked films range from about -50 degrees C, for the films containing PEGEEM, to about 90 degrees C, for the film co ntaining HEMA.