Poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer (PLGA) has attracted a great deal of interest due to their special characteristics as biomaterials since it is bioreabsorbable, biocompatible, nontoxic and the kinetics of degradation can be modified by the ratio of monomers in copolymerization. In this work, the copolymers were synthesized at 175 ºC, by opening the ring of cyclic dimers of D,L-lactide and glycolide monomers in the presence of tin(II) octanoate initiator and lauryl alcohol co-initiator. The efficient control of the vacuum in the medium combined with adequate stirring were essential to the success of the synthesis. Characterization of the copolymers samples was carried out by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). We analyzed not only the products of reaction but also the initial monomers. The new synthesis route employed was appropriate and the poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) was successfully obtained.
PLGA; poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide); biopolymer; synthesis; characterization; DSC; TG; FTIR
