Ring-Opening Polymerization of Biodegradable Polymers
Summary
Ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) is a versatile method for producing aliphatic polyesters from cyclic monomers such as lactide and ε-caprolactone. By opening a strained ring under controlled conditions, one achieves precise tuning of molecular weight, end-group functionality and polymer architecture. Catalytic systems ranging from metal complexes to organocatalysts enable stereocontrol and rapid propagation, while initiators bearing hydroxyl or amine groups define chain-growth initiation. The resulting polyesters combine hydrolytic degradability with favourable mechanical and thermal properties, supporting applications in biomedical devices, sustainable packaging and agricultural films. Advances in catalyst design have reduced residual metal content and expanded monomer scope to include functionalised cyclic esters, enabling post-polymerisation modifications and crosslinked networks. Modern ROP strategies also explore enzymatic catalysts and automated flow reactors to enhance scalability and green credentials. As global demand for eco-friendly polymers grows, ROP remains central to the development of tailored biodegradable materials with predictable lifetimes and performance profiles.
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Ring-Opening Polymerization of Biodegradable Polymers publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ring-opening polymerization of biodegradable polymers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Ring-opening polymerisation: Thermodynamically driven process in which a cyclic monomer is converted into a linear polymer by cleavage of a ring bond.
Initiator: Species that reacts with a monomer to form an active centre from which chain growth proceeds.
Catalyst: Substance that accelerates polymerisation by lowering activation energy without being consumed.
Lactide: Cyclic dimer of lactic acid widely used as a monomer for biodegradable polyesters.
Photoinitiator: Compound that produces reactive radicals or ions upon light absorption to trigger polymerisation or crosslinking.
Sol–gel process: Method for generating inorganic or hybrid networks via hydrolysis and condensation of molecular precursors in solution.
References
- Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(DL-lactide) Containing Fluorene Structures. Polymers (2023).
- Creation of a Stable Nanofibrillar Scaffold Composed of Star-Shaped PLA Network Using Sol-Gel Process during Electrospinning. Molecules (2022).
- Shear-Induced Crystallization of Star and Linear Poly(L-lactide)s. Molecules (2021).
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