ABSTRACT
The rate of hydrolytic degradation is controlled by the hydrophobicity of the backbone chemistry and, therefore, can be conveniently controlled from one application to another. Multifunctional methacrylate anhydride monomers were investigated that photopolymerize to high-strength and hydrolytically degradable polymers. Methacrylate-based polymers have a long history in biomedical applications, ranging from photocured dental composites to thermally cured bone cements. Furthermore, photopolymerizations provide many advantages for material handling and processing, including spatial and temporal control of the polymerization and rapid rates at ambient temperatures. Differential scanning photocalorimetry was used as a tool for determining the rate of polymerization for various initiating schemes. The photopolymerization rate is dependent on the incident light intensity, initiator concentration and efficiency as well as the kinetics governing the radical polymerization. Photopolymerizations have further advantages besides fast curing rates at ambient temperatures, including spatial and temporal control of the polymerization process.
