Minna Hakkarainen

From Lactic Acid to Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) : Characterization and Analysis of PLA and Its Precursors

The quality of the monomers lactic acid and lactide as well as the chemical changes induced during polymerization and processing are crucial parameters for controlling the properties of the resulting poly(lactic acid) (PLA) products. This review presents the most important analysis and characterization methods for quality assessment of PLA and its precursors. The impurities typically present in lactic acid or lactide monomers and their possible origins and effects on resulting PLA products are discussed. The significance of the analyses for the different polymer production stages is considered, and special applications of the methods for studying features specific for PLA-based materials are highlighted.

Aliphatic polyesters : Abiotic and biotic degradation and degradation products

This paper reviews the degradation behavior of aliphatic polyesters of current interest, including polylactide, polycaprolactone, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and their copolymers. Special focus is given to degradation products formed in different abiotic and biotic environments. The influence of processing and processing additives on the properties and degradation behavior is also briefly discussed.

Weight losses and molecular weight changes correlated with the evolution of hydroxyacids in simulated in vivo degradation of homo- and copolymers of PLA and PGA

Abstract Homo- and copolymers of poly(lactide)s (PLA) and poly(glycolide)s (PGA) were hydrolysed at 37 and 60 °C for periods up to 80 days. We propose that the hydrolyses of PLA100 (100% L-lactide), PLA37.5GA25 (75% D,L-lactide and 25% glycolide) and PLA25GA50 (50% D,L-lactide and 50% glycolide) in buffer solutions at 37 and 60 °C proceed in three stages. During the first stage the molecular weights decrease rapidly with little weight loss. In stage two, the decrease in molecular weight slows down and severe weight loss starts in parallel with which monomer formation is initiated. During the final third stage, when total weight loss is observed, about 50% of the polymer is converted to monomer. The hydrolyses of the soluble oligomers continues until all are transferred to lactic acid and glycolic acid.

Polylactide Stereocomplexation Leads to Higher Hydrolytic Stability but More Acidic Hydrolysis Product Pattern

Poly-l-lactide/poly-d-lactide (PLLA/PDLA) stereocomplex had much higher hydrolytic stability compared to plain PLLA, but at the same time shorter and more acidic degradation products were formed. Both materials were subjected to hydrolytic degradation in water and in phosphate buffer at 37 and 60 degrees C, and the degradation processes were monitored by following mass loss, water uptake, thermal properties, surface changes, and pH of the aging medium. The degradation product patterns were determined by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The high crystallinity and strong secondary interactions in the stereocomplex prevented water uptake and resulted in lower mass loss and degradation rate. However, somewhat surprisingly, the pH of the aging medium decreased much faster in the case of PLLA/PDLA stereocomplex. In accordance, the ESI-MS results showed that hydrolysis of PLLA/PDLA resulted in shorter and more acidic degradation products. This could be explained by the increased intermolecular crystallization due to stereocomplexation, which results in an increased number of tie chains. Because mainly these short tie chains are susceptible to hydrolysis this leads to formation of shorter oligomers compared to hydrolysis of regular PLLA.

Rapid (bio)degradation of polylactide by mixed culture of compost microorganisms—low molecular weight products and matrix changes

Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) was rapidly (bio)degraded by a mixed culture of compost microorganisms. After 5 weeks in biotic environment, the films had fragmented to fine powder, while the films in corresponding abiotic medium still looked intact. Analysis of the low molecular weight products by GC-MS showed that microorganisms rapidly assimilated lactic acid and lactoyl lactic acid from the films. At the same time, a new degradation product, ethyl ester of lactoyl lactic acid was formed in the biotic environment. This product cannot be formed by abiotic hydrolysis and it was not detected in the abiotic medium. The degradation of the PLLA matrix was monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A rapid molecular weight decrease and increasing polydispersity was observed in the biotic environment. In the abiotic environment only a slight molecular weight decrease was seen and the polydispersity started decreasing towards 2.0. This indicates different degradation mechanisms, i.e. preferred degradation near the chain ends in the biotic environment and a random hydrolysis of the ester bonds in the abiotic environment. SEM micrographs showed the formation of patterns and cracks on the surface of the films aged in biotic medium, while the surface of the sterile films remained smooth. The SEM micrographs showed a large number of bacteria and mycelium of fungi growing on the surface of the biotically aged films.

Molecular weight changes and polymeric matrix changes correlated with the formation of degradation products in biodegraded polyethylene

The molecular weight changes in abiotically and biotically degraded LDPE and LDPE modified with starch and/or prooxidant were compared with the formation of degradation products. The samples were thermooxidized for 6 days at 100°C to initiate degradation and then either inoculated with Arthobacter paraffineus or kept sterile. After 3.5 years homologous series of mono- and dicarboxylic acids and ketoacids were identified by GC-MS in abiotic samples, while complete disappearance of these acids was observed in biotic environments. The molecular weights of the biotically aged samples were slightly higher than the molecular weights of the corresponding abiotically aged samples, which is exemplified by the increase in \(\overline M _n\) from 5200 g/mol for a sterile sample with the highest amount of prooxidant to 6000 g/mol for the corresponding biodegraded sample. The higher molecular weight in the biotic environment is explained by the assimilation of carboxylic acids and low molecular weight polyethylene chains by microorganisms. Assimilation of the low molecular weight products is further confirmed by the absence of carboxylic acids in the biotic samples. Fewer carbonyls and more double bonds were seen by FTIR in the biodegraded samples, which is in agreement with the biodegradation mechanism of polyethylene.

Customizing the Hydrolytic Degradation Rate of Stereocomplex PLA through Different PDLA Architectures

Stereocomplexation of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) with star shaped D-lactic acid (D-LA) oligomers with different architectures and end-groups clearly altered the degradation rate and affected the degradation product patterns. Altogether, nine materials were studied: standard PLLA and eight blends of PLLA with either 30 or 50 wt % of four different D-LA oligomers. The influence of several factors, including temperature, degradation time, and amount and type of D-LA oligomer, on the hydrolytic degradation process was investigated using a fractional factorial experimental design. Stereocomplexes containing star shaped D-LA oligomers with four alcoholic end-groups underwent a rather slow hydrolytic degradation with low release of degradation products. Materials with linear D-LA oligomers exhibited similar mass loss but released higher concentrations of shorter acidic degradation products. Increasing the fraction of D-LA oligomers with a linear structure or with four alcoholic end-groups resulted in slower mass loss due to higher degree of stereocomplexation. The opposite results were obtained after addition of D-LA oligomers with carboxylic chain-ends. These materials demonstrated lower degree of stereocomplexation and larger mass and molar mass loss, and also the release of degradation products increased. Increasing the number of alcoholic chain-ends from four to six decreased the degree of stereocomplexation, leading to faster mass loss. The degree of stereocomplexation and degradation rate were customized by changing the architecture and end-groups of the D-LA oligomers.

Migration and Hydrolysis of Hydrophobic Polylactide Plasticizer

Hydrophobic plasticizer protects polylactide (PLA) against hydrolytic degradation but still migrates to aging medium and there undergoes further hydrolysis contributing to the spectrum of degradation products. PLA plasticized with hydrophobic acetyl tributyl citrate (ATC) plasticizer showed a slower degradation rate compared with pure PLA because of the increased hydrophobicity of the material. The enhanced bulk hydrophobicity also overcame the degradation enhancing effect of hydrophilic surface grafting. In addition to plasticization with ATC, some of the samples were also surface grafted with acrylic acid. The materials were subjected to hydrolysis at 37 and 60 degrees C for up to 364 days to compare the effect of hydrophobic and hydrophilic bulk and surface modifications. Although considered insoluble in water, the plasticizer was detected in the water solutions immediately upon immersion of the materials, and the relative abundance of the ATC degradation products increased with hydrolysis time.

Headspace solid-phase microextraction — a tool for new insights into the long-term thermo-oxidation mechanism of polyamide 6.6

Low-molecular-mass products formed during thermo-oxidation of polyamide 6.6 at 100 degrees C were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction and identified by GC-MS. A total of 18 degradation products of polyamide 6.6 were identified. In addition some low-molecular-mass products originating from the lubricants were detected. The identified degradation products were categorized into four groups where compounds within each group contain the same structural feature. In groups A, B and C several new thermo-oxidation products of polyamide 6.6 were identified including cyclic imides, pyridines and structural fragments from the original polyamide chain. 1-Pentyl-2,5-pyrrolidinedione (pentylsuccinimide) showed the largest increase in abundance during oxidation. The cyclopentanones in group D were already present in the un-aged material. Their amounts decreased during ageing and they are thus not formed during thermo-oxidation of polyamide 6.6 at 100 degrees C. The identified thermo-oxidation products can be formed as a result of extensive oxidation of the hexamethylenediamine unit in the polyamide backbone. The degradation products pattern shows that the long-term thermo-oxidative degradation, just like thermal degradation and photo-oxidation of polyamide 6.6, starts at the N-vicinal methylene groups.

Porosity and Pore Size Regulate the Degradation Product Profile of Polylactide

Porosity and pore size regulated the degradation rate and the release of low molar mass degradation products from porous polylactide (PLA) scaffolds. PLA scaffolds with porosities above 90% and different pore size ranges were subjected to hydrolytic degradation and compared to their solid analog. The solid film degraded fastest and the degradation rate of the porous structures decreased with decreasing pore size. Degradation products were detected earlier from the solid films compared to the porous structures as a result of the additional migration path within the porous structures. An intermediate degradation rate profile was observed when the pore size range was broadened. The morphology of the scaffolds changed during hydrolysis where the larger pore size scaffolds showed sharp pore edges and cavities on the scaffold surface. In the scaffolds with smaller pores, the pore size decreased during degradation and a solid surface was formed on the top of the scaffold. Porosity and pore size, thus, influenced the degradation and the release of degradation products that should be taken into consideration when designing porous scaffolds for tissue engineering.