L’objectif de ce travail a été de procéder au design de nouvelles structures hyperramifiées en procédant à la synthèse de polymères à base de glycidol utilisables dans l’élaboration de copolymères biodégradables, de macromonomères fonctionnels et de nanocomposites magnétiques biocompatibles. Une première partie de ces travaux s’est intéressée, à la synthèse de macromonomères hyperramifiés amorcés par l’hydroxyéthyle méthacrylate (HEMA), l’hydroxyéthyle acrylate (HEA) et le polyéthylène glycol méthacrylate (PEGMA), par polymérisation anionique, anionique coordinée ou cationique du glycidol. La synthèse de macromonomères poly(ε-caprolactone) en présence de différents systèmes catalytiques et amorceurs a également été investiguée. Cette partie se termine par la synthèse de dendrigrafts issus de la polymérisation de ces macromonomères, par voie radicalaire classique ou contrôlée (RAFT/ATRP). La seconde partie de ce travail a été consacrée à la synthèse de copolymères hyperramifiés biocompatibles obtenus par copolymérisation statistique du glycidol en présence d’ε-caprolactone, en vu de l’obtention de copolymères hydrolysables. L’impact de la structure sur les propriétés physico-chimiques des copolymères obtenus a été étudié. Enfin, le caractère biodégradable de ces polymères a été investigué à travers différents tests de dégradation enzymatique. Enfin, ce travail s’est focalisé sur l’élaboration de nanocomposites magnétiques biocompatibles par la synthèse de nanoparticules magnétiques, puis l’immobilisation de polymères linéaires ou hyperramifiés à leur surface selon différentes méthodes de greffage chimique. / The aim of this work was to proceed to the design of new hyperbranched structures through the synthesis of glycidol-based polymers which can be used in the development of biodegradable copolymers, functional macromonomers and biocompatible magnetic nanocomposites. The first part of this work was the synthesis of hyperbranched macromonomer initiated by hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA), through the study of the synthesis of polyglycerol (PG) by anionic, anionic coordinated and cationic polymerization of glycidol. Synthesis of poly (ε-caprolactone) macromonomers in the presence of various catalyst systems and initiators was also investigated. This part ends by the synthesis of dendrigrafts derived from the copolymerization of the macromonomers, by free radical polymerization or by controlled radical polymerization. The 2nd part of this work has been devoted to the synthesis of hyperbranched biocompatible copolymers obtained by random copolymerization of glycidol with ε-caprolactone in order to obtain hydrolyzable copolymers. The impact of the structure of the copolymers on their physico-chemical properties was then investigated. The biodegradable behavior of these polymers was then investigated through different enzymatic degradation tests. Finally, this work was focused on the development of biocompatible magnetic nanocomposites by the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles and the immobilization of linear or hyperbranched polymers on their surface by different chemical grafting methods.

This thesis is an experimental investigation of the phase behavior, volumetric properties, and viscosity of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and their blends. Homopolymerization and copolymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) in mixtures of acetone + CO2 have also been explored. The viscosities and densities of acetone + CO2 mixtures were measured in the temperature range 323-398 K at pressures up to 35 MPa. This is the first study in which viscosity of acetone + CO2 mixtures have been measured and the mixtures have been evaluated as solvents for PCL. It is shown that PCL can be readily dissolved in these fluid mixtures at modest pressures even at high carbon dioxide levels. Investigations have been conducted over a temperature range from 323 to 398 K at pressures up to 50 MPa for polymer concentrations up to 20 wt %, and CO2 concentrations up to 60 wt %. It is shown that in these mixtures PCL is dissolved at pressures that are much lower than the pressures reported for miscibility in the mixtures of carbon dioxide with other organic solvents. It is shown that PMMA also readily dissolves at modest pressures. Blends of PMMA and PCL require higher pressures than for the individual polymers for complete miscibility. Free-radical polymerizations of MMA in acetone at 343 K were followed using in-situ measurements of viscosity and density at different pressures from 7- 42 MPa. This is the first time viscosity has been used as a real-time probe of high pressure polymerizations. Two distinct kinetic regimes were identified. Homopolymerizations of MDO were conducted in carbon dioxide at 323 and 343 K at pressures up to 42 MPa. For the first time it is shown that high molecular weight PCL can be produced from MDO in high pressure CO2. Ring-opening free-radical copolymerizations of MDO with MMA, styrene and acrylonitrile were conducted for the first time in carbon dioxide and have been shown to lead to polymers with high molecular weights. / Ph. D.

Chitosan, Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) and vital wheat gluten (WG) are three biomaterials that have quite promising properties for packaging purposes. They have good film forming properties and good gas barrier properties in dry conditions. Moreover, because they are produced from industrial waste of food processing, they offer an ecological advantage over polymers made from petroleum. However, their physicochemical characteristics still must be improved for them to be of commercial interest for the food packaging industry. The purpose of this work was to study different strategies aiming to improve the water resistance and aging properties of these polymers, which are some of the key disadvantages of these materials. The produced solution cast chitosan and WPI films were characterised with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density measurements and thermogravimetry. The water vapour transmission rate was determined at a relative humidity of 11%. In the first part, mechanical properties of solid films and seals were assessed by tensile testing. WG film’s tensile properties and oxygen and water vapour permeabilities were measured as a function of aging time. The changes in the protein structure were determined by infrared spectroscopy and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography and the film structure was revealed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Gluten-clay nanocomposites were characterised by tensile testing, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The incorporation of a hydrophobic biodegradable polymer, poly ( ε-caprolactone), PCL, in both chitosan and whey protein, yielded a significant decrease in water vapour transmission rate. It was observed that a certain amount of the PCL particles were ellipsoidal in chitosan and fibrous in WPI. The obtained data also indicated that the particle shape had an important influence in the water vapour transmission rate. In the second part, the aging properties of WG films, plasticized with glycerol and cast from water/ethanol solutions with pH=4 or pH=11 were investigated. WG films made from alkaline solutions were mechanically more time-stable than the acidic ones, the latter being initially very ductile but turning brittle towards the end of the aging period. The protein solubility measurements indicated that the protein structure of the acidic films was initially significantly less aggregated than the in basic films. During aging the acidic films lost more mass than the basic films through slow evaporation of volatiles (water/ethanol) and through migration of glycerol to the paper support. The oxygen permeability was also lower for the basic films. In the last part, the properties of new and aged glycerol-plasticized WG films at acidic and basic conditions containing ≤4.5 wt% natural or quaternary-ammonium-salt-modified montmorillonite were studied. Films of WG with montmorillonite were possible to produce by solution casting. The aging rate of acidic and basic films was unaffected by the incorporation of clay. However, the large reduction in water vapour permeability for most systems suggested that the clay sheets were evenly distributed within the films. The film prepared from basic solution and containing natural clay was almost completely exfoliated as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The best water vapour barrier properties were obtained by using modified clay. / QC 20101013

[EN] The aim of tissue engineering is to develop functional biological substitutes to replace or restore damaged tissues by preparing three-dimensional scaffolds able to accommodate cells plus signaling factors to promote the regeneration of damaged tissue. There is a special interest in developing scaffolds that while providing a favourable environment for cells also possess a degradation rate that can be adapted to the tissue's rate of regeneration. Scaffolds should be porous and possess a pore morphology adapted to the application for which they are designed. They must also be able to hold large quantities of water (hydrogels) while presenting suitable cell/biomaterial interaction. The aim of this thesis is to create chitosan-based three-dimensional porous structures with tunable degradation rates with particular interest in fast degradation rate. Hydrogels of block-copolymer networks were prepared to crosslink the chitosan (CHT) or carboxymethyl chitosan (CmCHT) with either a hydrophobic polymer of low molecular weight, such as poly(ε-caprolactone), (PCL) or a hydrophilic polymer such as poly(ethylene glycol), (PEG). The hypothesis was that the degradation of the cross-linker polymer leaves behind large water-soluble polymer chains (protonated chitosan or carboxymethyl chitosan). However, in spite of chitosan's favourable properties, the polymer has relatively slow biodegradation times in enzymatic media that contain lysozyme and even slower in hydrolytic conditions. Chitosan's physical and chemical properties largely depend on its deacetylation degree (DD). In order to analyze these properties, chitosan was synthesized with various DD ranging from 85% to 45%. Water absorption was seen to rise rapidly as deacetylation was reduced. This would appear to contradict the fact that chitin water absorption (low DD) is much lower than that of chitosan. In order to understand this behaviour, it was analyzed the dependence of the degree of network swelling on the parameters determined by the Flory Rhener theory, the elastic properties of the network and the density of the cross-linking according to the sample's water content. The thermal stability of chitosan according to its DD was analysed by thermogravimetry. Different methods were applied to obtain the activation energy. Electrospinning was chosen as the porous membrane preparation technique as it provides thin membranes that can be handled with fiber sizes in the order of microns. The influence of the electrospinning and cross-linking processes on the thermal stability of chitosan was analyzed. Chitosan and carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels covalently cross-linked with short chains of poly(ε-caprolactone), (PCL) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were synthesized. The formation of networks was confirmed by solubility tests with appropriate solvents for each polymer. Hydrogels that absorbed large quantities of water were obtained, with values that ranged between 90 and 5000%. The calorimetric tests together with the Studies on the kinetics of hydrolytic and enzymatic biodegradation showed three different systems: CmCHT-PEG system that can be classified as stable hydrogel, CHT-PCL system as semidegradable hydrogel and degradable hydrogels with degradation kinetics in the order of days for the CmCHT-PCL system. Finally, biological studies were carried out on porous CmCHT-PCL hydrogels. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from pig adipose tissue were then cultivated and the results showed that these networks can be used in the organism in tissue engineering applications with degradation times of around a week. / [ES] La ingeniería tisular tiene como finalidad desarrollar sustitutos biológicos funcionales que reemplacen o restauren los tejidos dañados. Se trata de preparar andamiajes tridimensionales (scaffolds) que sean capaces de albergar células y factores de señalización que favorezcan la regeneración del tejido dañado. Existe un especial interés en el desarrollo de scaffolds que proporcionando un entorno favorable a las células, tengan una tasa de degradación que se adapte a velocidad de regeneración del tejido. Los scaffolds deben ser porosos y poseer una morfología del poro adaptada a la aplicación para la que son diseñados. Deben ser capaces de albergar gran cantidad de agua (hidrogeles) al tiempo que presentan una interacción célula/biomaterial adecuada. El objetivo de esta tesis es el de crear estructuras porosas tridimensionales basadas en quitosano con velocidades de degradación ajustables con particular interés en velocidades de degradación altas. Se han preparado hidrogeles de redes de copolimeros en bloque entrecruzando el quitosano, (CHT) o el carboximetil quitosano, (CmCHT) con un polímero hidrófobo de bajo peso molecular como la poli(ε-caprolactona), (PCL) o bien con un polímero hidrófilo como es el poli(etilenglicol), (PEG). La hipótesis de trabajo fue que la degradación del polímero que actúa como entrecruzador debe dejar grandes cadenas del polímero (quitosano protonado o carboximetil quitosano) que son solubles en agua. A pesar de las buenas propiedades del quitosano, el polímero presenta tiempos de biodegradación bastante lentos en medio enzimático conteniendo lisozima y aún más lentos en condiciones hidrolíticas. Las propiedades físico-químicas del quitosano dependen en gran medida del grado de desacetilación, DD. Con el fin de analizar dichas propiedades se ha llevado a cabo la síntesis de quitosano con DD variando entre 85% y el 45%. Se ha comprobado que la absorción de agua aumenta rápidamente a medida que el grado de desacetilación disminuye. Esto parece contradecir el hecho de que la absorción de agua de la quitina (DD bajo) es mucho menor que la de quitosano. Para entender dicho comportamiento se han analizado los parámetros que determinan la teoría de Flory Rhener, las propiedades elásticas de la red y la densidad de entrecruzamiento en función del contenido en agua de la muestra. La estabilidad térmica del quitosano en función de DD ha sido analizada por termogravimetría. Se han aplicado diferentes métodos para obtener la energía de activación. Como técnica de preparación de membranas porosas se ha elegido el electrohilado, ya que permite obtener membranas delgadas y manipulables con tamaños de fibra del orden de micras. Se ha analizado la influencia de los procesos de electrohilado y entrecruzamiento en la estabilidad térmica del quitosano. Se han sintetizado hidrogeles de quitosano, y carboximetil quitosano entrecruzados covalentemente con cadenas cortas de poli(ε-caprolactona), y poli(etilenglicol). La formación de las redes se ha confirmado mediante ensayos de solubilidad con buenos solventes para cada polímero. En todos los casos se han obtenido hidrogeles que absorben gran cantidad de agua con valores que oscilan entre 90 y 5000%. Los estudios de las cinéticas de biodegradación tanto hidrolítica como enzimática revelan la obtención de tres sistemas que se pueden clasificar como hidrogeles estables, para los hidrogeles formados por CmCHT-PEG, hidrogeles semidegradables para el sistema CHT-PCL y finalmente hidrogeles degradables con cinéticas de degradación del orden de días, para el sistema CmCHT-PCL. Finalmente se ha llevado a cabo estudios biológicos de los hidrogeles porosos de CmCHT-PCL. Se realizaron cultivos con células mesenquimales del tejido adiposo de cerdo (MSCs). Los resultados han revelado que dichas redes pueden ser utilizadas como sistemas de liberación de células en el organismo con tiempos de degradación / [CA] L'enginyeria tissular té com a finalitat desenvolupar substituts biològics funcionals que reemplacen o restauren els teixits danyats. Es tracta de preparar suports tridimensionals (esquelets o scaffolds) que siguen capaços d'albergar cèl.lules i factors de senyalització que afavorisquen la regeneració del teixit danyat. Hi ha un interès especial en el desenvolupament d'esquelets que, proporcionant un entorn favorable a les cèl.lules, tinguen una taxa de degradació que s'adapte a la velocitat de regeneració del teixit. Els scaffolds han de ser porosos i han de tenir una morfologia del porus adaptada a l'aplicació per a la qual són dissenyats. Han de ser capaços d'albergar una gran quantitat d'aigua (hidrogels) alhora que presenten una interacció cèl.lula/biomaterial adequada. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és crear estructures poroses tridimensionals basades en quitosan amb velocitats de degradació sintonizables amb un interés particular de rutes de degradació altes. S'han preparat hidrogels de xarxes de copolímers en bloc entrecreuant el quitosan o el carboximetil quitosan amb un polímer hidròfob de baix pes molecular com la poli (ε-caprolactona), o bé amb un polímer hidròfil com és el poli (etilenglicol). Es tracta d'aconseguir que quan el polímer que actua com a entrecreuador es degrade, deixe grans cadenes del polímer (quitosan protronat o carboximetil quitosan) que són solubles en aigua. A pesar de les bones propietats del quitosan, el polímer presenta cinètiques de biodegradació lentes en condicions enzimàtiques quan conté lisozima i encara més lentes en condicions hidrolítiques. Les propietats fisicoquímiques del quitosan depenen en gran mesura del grau de desacetilació, DD. A fi d'analitzar aquestes propietats, s'ha dut a terme la síntesi de quitosan amb un DD que variava entre el 85% i el 45%. S'ha comprovat que l'absorció d'aigua augmenta ràpidament a mesura que el grau de desacetilació disminueix. Això sembla que contradiu el fet que l'absorció d'aigua de la quitina (DD baixos) és molt menor que no la de quitosan. Per a entendre aquest comportament s'ha analitzat la dependència del grau d'unflament de la xarxa amb els paràmetres que determina la teoria de Flory Rhener, les propietats elàstiques de la xarxa i la densitat d'entrecreuament en funció del contingut en aigua de la mostra. L'estabilitat tèrmica del quitosan en funció del DD ha sigut analitzada per termogravimetria. S'han aplicat diversos mètodes per obtenir l'energia d'activació. Com a tècnica de preparació de membranes poroses s'ha utilitzat l'electrofilatura, ja que permet obtenir membranes primes i manipulables amb grandàries de fibra de l'ordre de micres. S'ha analitzat la influència dels processos d'electrofilatura i entrecreuament amb l'estabilitat tèrmica del quitosan. S'han sintetitzat hidrogels de quitosan i carboximetil quitosan entrecreuats covalentment amb cadenes curtes de poli(ε-caprolactona) i poli(etilenglicol). La formació de les xarxes s'ha confirmat per mitjà d'assajos de solubilitat amb bons solvents per a cada polímer. En tots els casos s'han obtingut hidrogels que absorbeixen una gran quantitat d'aigua, compresa en valors que oscil.len entre el 90 i el 5.000%. Els estudis de les cinètiques de biodegradació tant hidrolítica com enzimàtica revelen l'obtenció de tres sistemes que es poden classificar com a hidrogels estables (per als hidrogels formats per CmCHT-PEG), hidrogels semidegradables (per al sistema CHT-PCL) i, finalment, hidrogels degradables amb cinètiques de degradació de l'ordre de dies (per al sistema CmCHT-PCL). Finalment s'ha dut a terme estudis biològics dels hidrogels porosos de CmCHT-PCL. Es van realitzar cultius amb cèl.lules mesenquimals del teixit adipós de porc (MSCs). Els resultats han revelat que aquestes xarxes poden ser utilitzades com a sistemes d'alliberament de cèl.lules en l'organisme amb temps de degradació de l'ordre d'una setm / Gámiz González, MA. (2016). Biodegradable hydrogels based on water-soluble chitosan for cell transplant [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/73070 / TESIS

Narrow molecular weight fractions of Poly(ε-caprolactone) were successfully obtained using the successive precipitation fractionation technique with toluene/n-heptane as a solvent/nonsolvent pair. Calorimetric studies of the melting behavior of fractions that were crystallized either isothermally or under constant cooling rate conditions suggested that the isothermal crystallization of the samples should be used for a proper evaluation of the molecular weight dependence of the observed melting temperature and degree of crystallinity in PCL. The molecular weight and temperature dependence of the spherulitic growth rate of fractions was studied in the context of the Lauritzen-Hoffman two-phase model and the Strobl three-phase model of polymer crystallization. The zero-growth rate temperatures, determined from spherulitic growth rates using four different methods, are consistent with each other and increase with chain length. The concomitant increase in the apparent secondary nucleation constant was attributed to two factors. First, for longer chains there is an increase in the probability that crystalline stems belong to loose chain-folds, hence, an increase in fold surface free energy. It is speculated that the increase in loose folding and resulting decrease in crystallinity with increasing chain length are associated with the ester group registration requirement in PCL crystals. The second contribution to the apparent nucleation constant arises from chain friction associated with segmental transport across the melt/crystal interface. These factors were responsible for the much stronger chain length dependence of spherulitic growth rates at fixed undercooling observed here with PCL than previously reported for PE and PEO. In the case of PCL, the scaling exponent associated with the chain length dependence of spherulitic growth rates exceeds the upper theoretical bound of 2 predicted from the Brochard-DeGennes chain pullout model. Observation that zero-growth and equilibrium melting temperature values are identical with each other within the uncertainty of their determinations casts serious doubt on the validity of Strobl three-phase model. A novel method is proposed to determine the Porod constant necessary to extrapolate the small angle X-ray scattering intensity data to large scattering vectors. The one-dimensional correlation function determined using this Porod constant yielded the values of lamellar crystal thickness, which were similar to these estimated using the Hosemann-Bagchi Paracrystalline Lattice model. The temperature dependence of the lamellar crystal thickness was consistent with both LH and the Strobl model of polymer crystallization. However, in contrast to the predictions of Strobl’s model, the value of the mesomorph-to-crystal equilibrium transition temperature was very close to the zero-growth temperature. Moreover, the lateral block sizes (obtained using wide angle X-ray diffraction) and the lamellar thicknesses were not found to be controlled by the mesomorph-to-crystal equilibrium transition temperature. Hence, we concluded that the crystallization of PCL is not mediated by a mesophase. Metallocene-catalyzed linear low-density (m-LLDPE with 3.4 mol% 1-octene) and conventional low-density (LDPE) polyethylene blends of different compositions were investigated for their melt-state miscibility and concurrent crystallization tendency. Differential scanning calorimetric studies and morphological studies using atomic force microscopy confirm that these blends are miscible in the melt-state for all compositions. LDPE chains are found to crystallize concurrently with m-LLDPE chains during cooling in the m-LLDPE crystallization temperature range. While the extent of concurrent crystallization was found to be optimal in blends with highest m-LLDPE content studied, strong evidence was uncovered for the existence of a saturation effect in the concurrent crystallization behavior. This observation leads us to suggest that co-crystallization, rather than mere concurrent crystallization, of LDPE with m-LLDPE can indeed take place. Matching of the respective sequence length distributions in LDPE and m-LLDPE is suggested to control the extent of co-crystallization. / Ph. D.

The isothermal crystallization and melting temperatures of poly(ε-caprolactone) were correlated using fast differential scanning calorimetry. The melting kinetics was found to be independent of isothermal crystallization temperature and time. The conventional Hoffman-Weeks method could not be used to determine the equilibrium melting temperature because the observed melting temperatures were greater than the crystallization temperatures by a constant, so the Gibbs-Thomson method was used instead, yielding an equilibrium melting temperature of 103.4 ± 2.3°C. A modification was proposed to the non-linear Hoffman-Weeks equation that included a non-linear undercooling dependence for the kinetic fold surface free energy upon crystallization and permitted accurate modeling of the observed melting behavior. The isothermal crystallization rates of four narrow molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) fractions were characterized using fast differential scanning calorimetry for crystallization temperatures spanning 100°C range with the lower limit approaching the glass transition. A transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous primary nucleation was observed at −5°C. The kinetic analysis suggested that the crystal growth geometry depends strongly on temperature, where rod-like structures begin to appear near the glass transition temperature, highly branched solid sheaves grow throughout the homogeneous primary nucleation temperature range, and spherulites grow in the heterogenous primary nucleation range. Poly(δ-valerolactone) was synthesized using microwave-assisted techniques. Narrow molecular weight fractions were obtained using successive precipitation fractionation. Preliminary isothermal crystallization studies suggest that conventional thermal analysis methods are not adequate to measure the melting temperatures accurately due to reorganization during heating. / Doctor of Philosophy / Plastics may be classified into two general categories: those which form ordered domains upon solidification, i.e. undergo crystallization, and those which remain disordered upon solidification, i.e. form glasses. This work is focused on studying the crystallization and melting processes in two linear polymers, poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene oxide), using new experimental technology. In the case of poly(ε-caprolactone), the experimental data could not be rationalized by existing theories, and we have proposed modifications to these theories that explained the results. In the case of poly(ethylene oxide), the application of new experimental technology resulted in previously unreported data that indicated novel behavior at very low crystallization temperatures. In the last portion of this work, poly(δ-valerolactone) was made using a novel approach. Conventional experimental approaches to measuring the crystallization and melting behavior were shown to be inadequate.

The introduction of a nanoscopic reinforcing phase to a polymer matrix offers great possibilities of obtaining improved properties, enabling applications outside the boundaries of traditional composites. The majority of the work in this thesis has been devoted to polymer/clay nanocomposites in coating applications, using the hydroxyl-functional hyperbranched polyester Boltorn® as matrix and montmorillonite clay as nanofiller. Nanocomposites with a high degree of exfoliation were readily prepared using the straightforward solution-intercalation method with water as solvent. Hard and scratch-resistant coatings with preserved flexibility and transparency were obtained, and acrylate functionalization of Boltorn® rendered a UV-curable system with similar property improvements. In order to elucidate the effect of the dendritic architecture on the exfoliation process, a comparative study on the hyperbranched polyester Boltorn® and a linear analogue of this polymer was performed. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the superior efficiency of the hyperbranched polymer in the preparation of this type of nanocomposites. Additionally, an objective of this thesis was to investigate how cellulose nanofibers can be utilized in high performance polymer nanocomposites. A reactive cellulose “nanopaper” template was combined with a hydrophilic hyperbranched thermoset matrix, resulting in a unique nanocomposite with significantly enhanced properties. Moreover, in order to fully utilize the great potential of cellulose nanofibers as reinforcement in hydrophobic polymer matrices, the hydrophilic surface of cellulose needs to be modified in order to improve the compatibility. For this, a grafting-from approach was explored, using ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) from microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), resulting in PCL-modified MFC. It was found that the hydrophobicity of the cellulose surfaces increased with longer graft lengths, and that polymer grafting rendered a smoother surface morphology. Subsequently, PCL-grafted MFC film/PCL film bilayer laminates were prepared in order to investigate the interfacial adhesion. Peel tests demonstrated a gradual increase in the interfacial adhesion with increasing graft lengths. / QC20100621

<p>Degradable polymers have gained an increased attention in the field of biomedical applications over the past decades, for example in tissue engineering. One way of improving the biocompatibility of these polymers is by chemical surface modification, however the risk of degradation during the modification procedure is a limiting factor. In some biomedical applications, for example in nerve guides, a patterned surface is desired to improve the cell attachment and proliferation.</p><p>In this thesis a new non-destructive, single-step, and solvent free method for surface modification of degradable polymers is described. Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) substrates have been functionalized with one of the following vinyl monomers; N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP), acrylamide (AAm), or maleic anhydride (MAH) grafts. The substrates were subjected to a vapor phase atmosphere constituted of a mixture of a vinyl monomer and a photoinitiator (benzophenone) in a closed chamber at very low pressure and under UV irradiation. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), and poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) have been surface modified with VP using the same procedure to show the versatility of the method. The wettability of all of the four substrates increased after grafting. The surface compositions were confirmed by ATR-FTIR and XPS. The VP grafted PLLA, PTMC and PLGA substrates have been shown to be good substrates for the normal human cells i.e. keratinocytes and fibroblasts, to adhere and proliferate on. The topography of substrates with well defined nano patterns was preserved during grafting, since the grafted layer is very thin. We have also shown that the method is useful for a simultaneous chemical and topographical modification of substrates by masked vapor phase grafting. The surface topography was determined with SEM and AFM.</p> / <p>Intresset för användningen av nedbrytbara polymerer till biomedicinska applikationer som till exempel vävnads rekonstruktion har ökat avsevärt de senaste decennierna. Ett sätt att öka biokompatibiliteten hos dessa polymerer är genom kemisk ytmodifiering, men risken för nedbrytning under själva modifieringen är en begränsande faktor. I vissa biomedicinska applikationer, till exempel nervguider, är det önskvärt att ha en väldefinierad ytstruktur för att öka vidhäftningen och tillväxten av celler.</p><p>I den här avhandlingen presenteras en ny ickeförstörande, lösningsmedelsfri enstegsprocess för ytmodifiering av nedbrytbara polymerer. Substrat av poly(L-laktid) (PLLA) har ytfunktionaliserats med var och en av följande vinylmonomerer, N-vinylpyrrolidon (VP), akrylamid (AAm) eller maleinsyraanhydrid (MAH). Substraten har exponerats för en gasfasatmosfär av en blandning av en vinylmonomer och en fotoinitiator (bensofenon) i en tillsluten reaktor vid mycket lågt tryck och under UV-strålning. Metodens mångsidighet har även påvisats genom att ytmodifiera substrat av poly(ε-kaprolakton) (PCL), poly(laktid-co-glykolid) (PLGA) och poly(trimetylen karbonat) (PTMC) med VP. Vätbarheten ökade för alla fyra materialen efter ympning med en vinylmonomer. Ytsammansättningen fastställdes med ATR-FTIR och XPS. De VP ympade filmerna av PLLA, PLGA och PTMC visade sig vara bra substrat för mänskliga celler, i detta fall keratinocyter och fibroblaster, att vidhäfta och växa på. Yttopografin hos filmer med väldefinierade nanomönstrade ytor kunde bevaras efter ympning, tack vare att det ympade lagret är så tunt. Gasfas metoden har också visat sig användbar för att simultant ytmodifiera både kemiskt och topografiskt genom maskad gasfasympning. Yttopografin bestämdes med SEM och AFM.</p>

Degradable polymers have gained an increased attention in the field of biomedical applications over the past decades, for example in tissue engineering. One way of improving the biocompatibility of these polymers is by chemical surface modification, however the risk of degradation during the modification procedure is a limiting factor. In some biomedical applications, for example in nerve guides, a patterned surface is desired to improve the cell attachment and proliferation. In this thesis a new non-destructive, single-step, and solvent free method for surface modification of degradable polymers is described. Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) substrates have been functionalized with one of the following vinyl monomers; N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP), acrylamide (AAm), or maleic anhydride (MAH) grafts. The substrates were subjected to a vapor phase atmosphere constituted of a mixture of a vinyl monomer and a photoinitiator (benzophenone) in a closed chamber at very low pressure and under UV irradiation. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), and poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) have been surface modified with VP using the same procedure to show the versatility of the method. The wettability of all of the four substrates increased after grafting. The surface compositions were confirmed by ATR-FTIR and XPS. The VP grafted PLLA, PTMC and PLGA substrates have been shown to be good substrates for the normal human cells i.e. keratinocytes and fibroblasts, to adhere and proliferate on. The topography of substrates with well defined nano patterns was preserved during grafting, since the grafted layer is very thin. We have also shown that the method is useful for a simultaneous chemical and topographical modification of substrates by masked vapor phase grafting. The surface topography was determined with SEM and AFM. / Intresset för användningen av nedbrytbara polymerer till biomedicinska applikationer som till exempel vävnads rekonstruktion har ökat avsevärt de senaste decennierna. Ett sätt att öka biokompatibiliteten hos dessa polymerer är genom kemisk ytmodifiering, men risken för nedbrytning under själva modifieringen är en begränsande faktor. I vissa biomedicinska applikationer, till exempel nervguider, är det önskvärt att ha en väldefinierad ytstruktur för att öka vidhäftningen och tillväxten av celler. I den här avhandlingen presenteras en ny ickeförstörande, lösningsmedelsfri enstegsprocess för ytmodifiering av nedbrytbara polymerer. Substrat av poly(L-laktid) (PLLA) har ytfunktionaliserats med var och en av följande vinylmonomerer, N-vinylpyrrolidon (VP), akrylamid (AAm) eller maleinsyraanhydrid (MAH). Substraten har exponerats för en gasfasatmosfär av en blandning av en vinylmonomer och en fotoinitiator (bensofenon) i en tillsluten reaktor vid mycket lågt tryck och under UV-strålning. Metodens mångsidighet har även påvisats genom att ytmodifiera substrat av poly(ε-kaprolakton) (PCL), poly(laktid-co-glykolid) (PLGA) och poly(trimetylen karbonat) (PTMC) med VP. Vätbarheten ökade för alla fyra materialen efter ympning med en vinylmonomer. Ytsammansättningen fastställdes med ATR-FTIR och XPS. De VP ympade filmerna av PLLA, PLGA och PTMC visade sig vara bra substrat för mänskliga celler, i detta fall keratinocyter och fibroblaster, att vidhäfta och växa på. Yttopografin hos filmer med väldefinierade nanomönstrade ytor kunde bevaras efter ympning, tack vare att det ympade lagret är så tunt. Gasfas metoden har också visat sig användbar för att simultant ytmodifiera både kemiskt och topografiskt genom maskad gasfasympning. Yttopografin bestämdes med SEM och AFM. / QC 20101014