Poly(propylene fumarate- co -ethylene glycol) has been synthesized in an effort to develop a cross-linkable biomaterial for use as a vascular implant. This copolymer has been fabricated in a block configuration with two to three homopolymer units in series through a transesterification reaction between the linear polyester and the terminal hydroxyl functionalities of the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). A number of design parameters including the molecular weights of the two homopolymers, the copolymer reaction time, and the weight percent of PEG were varied in order to assess their effects on the properties of the resulting copolymer. This material has been characterized in terms of structure and composition as well as thermal properties and solubility behavior. All formulations of the copolymer exhibited a single glass transition temperature and a single melting temperature, with a degree of crystallinity which was dependent upon the relative amount of PEG. The copolymers were water soluble and demonstrated enhanced solubilities in organic solvents compared to the parent homopolymers.
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Suggs et al. (1997) studied this question.
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