Preparation and properties of multi-branched poly(D-lactide) derived from polyglycidol and its stereocomplex blends

Multi-branched poly(D-lactide)s (mbPDLAs) with various structures are synthesized via ring-opening polymerization by using polyglycidol (PG) macro-initiators. Their chemical structures and thermal properties are controlled by adjusting feed ratios of D-lactide (DLA) and PG. The materials are blended with commercial linear poly(L-lactide)(l-PLLA) to form a stereocomplex structure. Effects of mbPDLAs structures and l-PLLA/mbPDLA ratios on the blends’ thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties are evaluated. Mechanical properties of the stereocomplex blends, especially elongation at break and toughness, are dependent on the blend compositions, in which a 90:10 ratio exhibits the most desirable properties. The material also exhibits the lowest complex viscosity, which provides easy processing conditions. This is achieved by the incorporation of copolymers with multi-branched structures and an ability to form a much stronger stereocomplex structure

Preparation of Eumelanin-Encapsulated Stereocomplex Polylactide Nano/Microparticles for Degradable Biocompatible UV-Shielding Products

The role of eumelanin as a natural pigment in protecting human skin from ultraviolet (UV) light has drawn vast interest in the research and industrial community. Encapsulation of the compound by various shell materials has been extensively studied to optimize and prolong its shielding efficiency from UV penetration through the skin. Polylactide (PLA)-based copolymers have been widely used in the encapsulation of various active compounds due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability that facilitate sustained release of the active compounds. In this work, stereocomplex PLA (sc-PLA) derived from mixtures of poly(D-lactide-caprolactone-D-lactide), P(DLA-b-CL-b-DLA), a triblock copolymer with linear poly(L-lactide), and PLLA are employed to encapsulate eumelanin by an oil-in-water emulsion (O/W) technique. The effect of eumelanin distribution in PLA’s enantiomers and ultrasonication on the physicochemical properties, encapsulation efficiency, and release behavior of the nano/microparticles were evaluated. The potential application of the resulting particles for sunscreen products was assessed in terms of UV absorbance and in vitro sun protection factor (SPF). The nano/microparticles show a hollow spherical structure, whose size can be controlled by ultrasonication. The distribution of eumelanin and the ultrasonication process play a key role in the growth of sc-PLA and the crystalline structure of the particles. The highest encapsulation efficiency of 46.6% was achieved for sc-PLA2U particles. The high content of eumelanin and the hollow structure with a large surface area lead to improvement in the UV absorbance and sunscreen performance of the particles, as revealed by the increase in the SPF value from 9.7 to 16.5. The materials show high potential for various applications, especially in cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields, as UV-shielding products