Sizing down and functionalizing polylactide (PLA) resin for synthesis of PLA-based polyurethanes for use in biomedical applications

Alcoholysis is a promising approach for upcycling postconsumer polylactide (PLA) products into valuable constituents. In addition, an alcohol-acidolysis of PLA by multifunctional 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (DMPA) produces lactate oligomers with hydroxyl and carboxylic acid terminals. In this work, a process for sizing down commercial PLA resin to optimum medium-sized lactate oligomers is developed at a lower cost than a bottom-up synthesis from its monomer. The microwave-assisted reaction is conveniently conducted at 220–240 °C and pressure lower than 100 psi. The PLA resin was completely converted via alcohol-acidolysis reaction, with a product purification yield as high as 93%. The resulting products are characterized by FTIR, 2D-NMR, (1)H-NMR, GPC, DSC, and XRD spectroscopy. The effects of PLA: DMPA feed ratios and the incorporation of 1,4-butanediol (BDO) on the structures, properties, and particle formability of the alcohol-acidolyzed products are examined. The products from a ratio of 12:1, which possessed optimum size and structures, are used to synthesize PLA-based polyurethane (PUD) by reacting with 1,6-diisocyanatohexane (HDI). The resulting PUD is employed in encapsulating lavender essential oil (LO). Without using any surfactant, stable LO-loaded nanoparticles are prepared due to the copolymer’s self-stabilizability from its carboxylate groups. The effect of the polymer: LO feed ratio (1.25–3.75: 1) on the physicochemical properties of the resulting nanoparticles, e.g., colloidal stability (zeta potential > -60 mV), hydrodynamic size (300–500 nm), encapsulation efficiency (80–88%), and in vitro release, are investigated. The LO-loaded nanoparticles show non-toxicity to fibroblast cells, with an IC(50) value higher than 2000 µg/mL. The products from this process have high potential as drug encapsulation templates in biomedical applications.