Phenylalanine-based poly(ester urea): Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro degradation

A new class of l-phenylalanine-based poly(ester urea)s (PEU) was developed that possess tunable mechanical properties and degradation rates. Our preliminary data have shown that 1,6-hexanediol-l-phenylalanine-based poly(ester urea)s possess an elastic modulus nearly double that of poly(lactic acid). The data in this article detail the synthesis of a series of l-phenylalanine-based poly(ester urea)s possessing a variation in diol chain length and how these subtle structural differences influence the mechanical properties and in vitro biodegradation rates. The mechanical data span a range of values that overlaps with several currently clinically available degradable polymers. Increasing the diol chain lengths increases the amount of flexible segment in the chemical structure, which results in reduced elastic modulus values and increased values of elongation at break. The l-phenylalanine-based poly(ester urea)s also exhibited a diol length dependent degradation process that varied between 1 and 5% over 16 weeks. Compared with PLLA, PEUs degrade more quickly, and the rate can be tuned by changing the diol chain length. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Duke Scholars

Author Matthew L Becker Chemistry