Novel Biodegradable Elastomeric Scaffold for Tissue Engineering and Light Scattering Fingerprinting Methods for Testing the Same

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a novel biocompatible polymer that may be used in tissue engineering. More specifically, the specification describes methods and compositions for making and using citric acid copolymers.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a thermoset elastomer comprising crosslinked polyesters having the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is selected from a hydrogen or a poly(diol citrate), and wherein each A is a linear aliphatic diol monomer; comprising the steps of:
 (a) polymerizing citric acid and said linear aliphatic diol monomer to produce poly(diol citrate) pre-polymers; and 
 (b) crosslinking the poly(diol citrate) pre-polymers to produce the elastomeric network. 
 
       
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the crosslinking step is done at lower temperature than the polymerizing step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polymerizing step is done at 120-140°. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the crosslinking step is done at about 60-120° C. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each A is O(CH2) x O, and X is between 2 and 20. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein X is between 4 and 18. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the linear aliphatic diol monomer is 1,8-ocantediol, 1,10-decanediol, or 1,12-dodecanediol. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each linear aliphatic diol monomer is the same. 
     
     
         23 . A thermoset elastomer produced by the method of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the crosslinking step is performed under vacuum.