Abstract

Synthetic polyesters have created a considerable attraction among the researchers over a few decades. Among them, polycaprolactone (PCL) is of great interest since the 1970s-1980s in various scientific and industrial fields. This particular aliphatic polyester is unique by its biocompatibility, biodegradability, physicochemical and mechanical properties. It can be synthesized through polycondensation and ring-opening polymerization techniques. PCL moiety is hydrophobic and capable of aggregates formation (through self-assembly behavior) after combining with a hydrophilic entity. These aggregates can form sophisticated architectures of huge biomedical applications. Here, in this critical review, we have thoroughly discussed the synthesis, physical and biological properties of PCL and their connectivity with the self-assembly behavior. We have mainly focused on its applications in the field of controlled drug release and tissue engineering.

摘要

几十年来，合成聚酯在研究人员中引起了相当大的吸引力。其中，自1970年代至1980年代以来，聚己内酯（PCL）在各种科学和工业领域都引起了人们的极大兴趣。这种特殊的脂族聚酯的独特之处在于其生物相容性，生物降解性，理化和机械性能。可以通过缩聚和开环聚合技术合成。PCL部分是疏水的，在与亲水实体结合后能够聚集形成（通过自组装行为）。这些聚集体可以形成巨大的生物医学应用程序的复杂体系结构。在这里，在这次重要的综述中，我们彻底讨论了PCL的合成，物理和生物学特性以及它们与自组装行为的连通性。