Amy K. Burkoth, K. Anseth
Feb 17, 1999
Citations
1
Influential Citations
44
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Journal
Macromolecules
Abstract
Multifunctional anhydride monomers were synthesized and photopolymerized to form highly cross-linked, degradable networks. The networks were synthesized from monomers and oligomers of dimethacrylated sebacic acid of varying molecular weight, as well as under varying reaction conditions. The cross-linked polymers were subsequently degraded in phosphate buffered saline, and the degradation products, sebacic acid and poly(methacrylic acid), were isolated. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to characterize the absolute molecular weight distribution of the linear poly(methacrylic acid) degradation product, especially as a function of the network evolution (i.e., double-bond conversion), rate of initiation, and monomer size. MALDI-TOF results, supported by 1H NMR, showed that the distribution of kinetic chain lengths was relatively narrow, with average lengths shorter than calculated from experimentally measured rate data, indicating the influenc...