Synthesis of poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one-co-trimethylene carbonate) for application in drug delivery systems

Poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one-co-trimethylene carbonate), P(DON-co-TMC), copolymers with different compositions were synthesized by copolymerizations of 1,4-dioxan-2-one (DON) and trimethylene carbonate (TMC) at 120°C in the presence of Sn(Oct)2. Their structures and compositions were determined with FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopies. The intrinsic viscosities of copolymers increased with the increase of the TMC fraction in feed. The DSC results of copolymers showed that the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of copolymers are lower than those of homopolymers. Most copolymers are amorphous except for one with a high DON composition. The hydrophilicity of the copolymers is in proportion with the DON molar fraction in the copolymers. It was found that the Levonorgestrel (LNG) release rate is dependent of the composition and flexibility of polymer chains. The fastest one is the copolymer with nearly a equivalent fraction of DON to TMC. Among copolymers with other compositions, a higher DON fraction would be favorable to the release of LNG. All measurements demonstrate an almost constant release rate in the period of 1 month.