Synthesis and properties of a star-shaped poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-ibuprofen conjugate.

A series of novel star-shaped poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) biodegradable polyesters were synthesized through ring-opening polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone in the presence of a poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer initiator. The polymers (PAMAM/PCLs) were obtained with a high yield (92%) and a number-average molecular weight of up to 14 000 g/mol. The nonlinear structure of PAMAM/PCLs was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance, gel-permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal analysis indicated that the star-shaped PAMAM/PCLs had a melting point, degree of crystallinity, glass transition temperature and maximum decomposition temperature all lower than those of linear PCL. Ibuprofen (IBU), a popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was co-valently (ester) bonded to the PAMAM/PCL molecules using the DCC/DMAP coupling method (DCC, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide; DMAP, 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine). A high drug content (33.1 mol%) in the conjugate was obtained. The in-vitro drug-release profiles of IBU from the PAMAM/PCL/IBU conjugate were examined and found adequate for drug-carrier applications of our star-shaped polymers.