Effect of Cyclodextrin Type on the Photopolymerization and Network Properties of Oligo(L-lactide)-Extended Poly(ethylene glycol) Formulations
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Cyclodextrins (CDs) are widely used as supramolecular components to provide a platform for designing material properties through non-covalent interactions. In this study, we report how the CD type influences the photopolymerization and network properties of a methacrylated telechelic oligo(L-lactide)-extended poly(ethylene glycol) precursor (PLA-PEG-PLA), denoted MPL with three different cyclodextrins (α-CD, β-CD and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HP-β-CD)) prepared at a 1:2 MPL:CD molar feed ratio. The effect of cyclodextrin type on the chemical structure, inclusion geometry, thermal behaviour, and physicochemical properties of the resulting material, as well as on their photopolymerization process, was systematically studied using FTIR spectroscopy, 1D and 2D proton (ROESY/NOESY) 1 H NMR techniques, and differential scanning calorimetry. Molecular docking was used to visualize plausible inclusion geometries. The influence of photoinitiator type and concentration on polymerisation efficiency was examined, and the cytocompatibility of the cured materials was assessed against L929 fibroblasts. The results showed that the nature of cyclodextrin affects the strength of supramolecular association and systematically influences photo-initiated polymerization kinetics, network formation, and macroscopic material properties. Overall, this work highlights the design of cyclodextrin-mediated supramolecular macromonomer materials and outlines their potential as a tunable photo-curable host-guest polymer network.
Source: ChemRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Organic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223091673