Oligoagarose‐Graft‐Polycaprolactone Copolymers: Synthesis and Characterization

In this paper, we combine hydrophilic oligoagarose (DPn = 10–15), issued from enzymatic degradation of the natural biopolymer agarose, with polycaprolactone, a synthetic biodegradable and hydrophobic polyester. To synthesize these amphiphilic graft copolymers, we use partially acetylated oligoagarose as macroinitiator in combination with tin (II) octanoate for the bulk polymerization of ε‐caprolactone. The grafting was confirmed by NMR and SEC which showed a monomodal distribution. After removal of the acetyl protecting groups, copolymers with 30–60% free hydroxyl groups were soluble in water and insoluble in chloroform, thus indicating that they probably adopt micelle‐like structures in aqueous solution with a PCL hydrophobic core and spherical oligoagarose side chains.