@article{BalkBehlLendlein2020,
  author    = {Balk, Maria and Behl, Marc and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Actuators based on oligo[(epsilon-caprolactone)-co-glycolide] with accelerated hydrolytic degradation},
  series = {MRS advances : a journal of the Materials Research Society (MRS)},
  volume    = {5},
  journal   = {MRS advances : a journal of the Materials Research Society (MRS)},
  number    = {12-13},
  publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
  address   = {New York, NY},
  issn      = {2059-8521},
  doi       = {10.1557/adv.2019.447},
  pages     = {655 -- 666},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Polyester-based shape-memory polymer actuators are multifunctional materials providing reversible macroscopic shape shifts as well as hydrolytic degradability. Here, the function-function interdependencies (between shape shifts and degradation behaviour) will determine actuation performance and its life time. In this work, glycolide units were incorporated in poly(epsilon-caprolactone) based actuator materials in order to achieve an accelerated hydrolytic degradation and to explore the function-function relationship. Three different oligo[(epsilon-caprolactone)-co-glycolide] copolymers (OCGs) with similar molecular weights (10.5 +/- 0.5 kg center dot mol(-1)) including a glycolide content of 8, 16, and 26 mol\% (ratio 1:1:1 wt\%) terminated with methacrylated moieties were crosslinked. The obtained actuators provided a broad melting transition in the range from 27 to 44 degrees C. The hydrolytic degradation of programmed OCG actuators (200\% of elongation) resulted in a reduction of sample mass to 51 wt\% within 21 days at pH = 7.4 and 40 degrees C. Degradation results in a decrease of T-m associated to the actuating units and increasing T-m associated to the skeleton forming units. The actuation capability decreased almost linear as function of time. After 11 days of hydrolytic degradation the shape-memory functionality was lost. Accordingly, a fast degradation behaviour as required, e.g., for actuator materials intended as implant material can be realized.},
  language  = {en}
}