Investigation of PLLA/PCL Blends and Paclitaxel Release Profiles

Blends of poly (l-lactide) (PLLA) and poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with and without paclitaxel were prepared via solution casting. DSC analysis as well as SEM analysis of the PLLA/PCL blend solution cast films showed that these blends are all phase separated.%PLLA crystallinity was found to increase with increasing PCL content (up till 15 wt.%). The PCL phase is found to homogeneously disperse in the PLLA matrix as spherical domains where the pore diameters of the PCL domains significantly increased with increasing PCL content. The degradation profiles matched with the slower degrading component PCL rather than PLLA and also increasing PCL content of the blends increased the degradation rate relatively. The increased crystallinity of the PLLA phase with increasing PCL contents confirmed that the degradation occurred through PCL phase. Cell proliferation on PLLA/PCL blends showed that all these blends were suitable for the support of cellular growth. Apoptosis assay with the paclitaxel-loaded PLLA/PCL blends showed an increase in cell death throughout 7 days of incubation where the cell death was increased with increasing PCL contents. This was attributed to the faster release of paclitaxel which was at least partially affected by the faster degradation rate at increasing PCL contents. The paclitaxel release was shown to be degradation controlled in the initial stages followed by a faster diffusion-controlled release in the later stages. These polymer blends were found to be very suitable paclitaxel release agents for which the paclitaxel release times can be altered with the composition of the blend and the film thickness.     

Compatibilization effect of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers and phase morphology analysis in immiscible poly(lactide)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) blends

The miscibility and phase behavior of two stereoisomer forms of poly(lactide) (PLA: poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(DL-lactide) (PDLLA)) blends with poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-b-PEG) and PCL-b-monomethoxy-PEG (PCL-b-MPEG) block copolymers have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC thermal behavior of both the blend systems revealed that PLA is miscible with the PEG segment phase of PCL-b-(M)PEG but is still immiscible with its PCL segment phase although PCL was block-copolymerized with PEG. On the basis of these results, PCL-b-PEG was added as a compatibilizer to PLA/PCL binary blends. The improvement in mechanical properties of PLA/PCL blends was achieved as anticipated upon the addition of PCL-b-PEG. In addition, atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements have been performed in order to study the compositional synergism to be observed in mechanical tests. AFM observations of the morphological dependency on blend composition indicate that PLA/PCL blends are immiscible but compatible to some extent and that synergism of compatibilizing may be maximized in the compositional blend ratio before apparent phase separation and coarsening.     

Blending chitosan with polycaprolactone: effects on physicochemical and antibacterial properties

Chitosan is a well sought-after polysaccharide in biomedical applications and has been blended with various macromolecules to mitigate undesirable properties. However, the effects of blending on the unique antibacterial activity of chitosan as well as changes in fatigue and degradation properties are not well understood. The aim of this work was to evaluate the anti-bacterial properties and changes in physicochemical properties of chitosan upon blending with synthetic polyester poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). Chitosan and PCL were homogeneously dissolved in varying mass ratios in a unique 77% acetic acid in water mixture and processed into uniform membranes. When subjected to uniaxial cyclical loading in wet conditions, these membranes sustained 10 cycles of predetermined loads up to 1 MPa without break. Chitosan was anti-adhesive to Gram-positive Streptococcus mutans and Gram-negative Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans bacteria. Presence of PCL compromised the antibacterial property of chitosan. Four-week degradation studies in PBS/lysozyme at 37 degrees C showed initial weight loss due to chitosan after which no significant changes were observed. Molecular interactions between chitosan and PCL were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which showed no chemical bond formations in the prepared blends. Investigation by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) indicated that the crystal structure of individual polymers was unchanged in the blends. Dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis (DMTA) indicated that the crystallinity of PCL was suppressed and its storage modulus increased with the addition of chitosan. Analysis of surface topography by atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed a significant increase in roughness of all blends relative to chitosan. Observed differences in biological and anti-bacterial properties of blends could be primarily attributed to surface topographical changes.     

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of poly(ε-caprolactone) and characterization of its solid-state properties

Abstract

Ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone has been successfully conducted using an immobilized form of Candida antarctica lipase B as catalyst. The effects of enzyme concentration, reaction medium, reaction temperature and time on monomer conversion and product molecular weight were investigated. Through optimization of reaction conditions, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was obtained with 99% monomer conversion and a number-average molecular weight (M_n) of 18870 g/mol. The reaction system was then scaled up, and PCL was synthesized in 78% isolated yield, with M_n and polydispersity index of 41540 g/mol and 1.69, respectively. The solid-state properties of this sample were systematically evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). The product PCL showed excellent thermal stability, with degradation of the main chain in the temperature range of 280–450°C. Remarkably, this high molecular weight PCL was a typical crystalline polymer with a high degree of crystallinity observed by DSC, WAXD and POM.     

FT-IR imaging spectroscopy of phase separation in blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) with poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone)

The detection of phase separation and identification of miscibility in biopolymer blends is an important aspect for the improvement of their physical properties. In this article, the phase separation in blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), respectively, has been studied as a function of the blend composition by FT-IR imaging spectroscopy. For both polymer blend systems, a miscibility gap has been found around the 50:50% (w/w) composition of the two components. Furthermore, the separating phases have been identified as blends of the two polymer components and their compositions could be determined from calibrations based on the spectra of the blends in the compositional range of miscibility. The data derived from FT-IR spectroscopic imaging were corroborated by additional DSC analyses and mechanical stress-strain measurements of polymer blend films, which exhibited a characteristic fracture behavior as a function of PHB composition.     

Formation of a unique crystal morphology for the poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diblock copolymer

The crystallization behaviors of the poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diblock copolymer with the PEG weight fraction of 0.50 (PEG(50)-PCL(50)) was studied by DSC, WAXD, SAXS, and FTIR. A superposed melting point at 58.5 degrees C and a superposed crystallization temperature at 35.4 degrees C were obtained from the DSC profiles running at 10 degrees C/min, whereas the temperature-dependent FTIR measurements during cooling from the melt at 0.2 degrees C/min showed that the PCL crystals formed starting at 48 degrees C while the PEG crystals started at 45 degrees C. The PEG and PCL blocks of the copolymer crystallized separately and formed alternating lamella regions according to the WAXD and SAXS results. The crystal growth of the diblock copolymer was observed by polarized optical microscope (POM). An interesting morphology of the concentric spherulites developed through a unique crystallization behavior. The concentric spherulites were analyzed by in situ microbeam FTIR, and it was determined that the morphologies of the inner and outer portions were mainly determined by the PCL and PEG spherulites, respectively. However, the compositions of the inner and outer portions were equal in the analysis by microbeam FTIR.     

Preparation of poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(trimethylene carbonate) blend nanofibers by electrospinning

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) blend nanofibers have been prepared for the first time using an electrospinning process. The mixed dichloromethane (DCM) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (75/25, v/v) was found to be the most suitable solvent for electrospinning. Various blends of PCL/PTMC solutions were investigated for the formation of nano-scale fibers and it was found that the average diameter of the fibers was reduced and the morphology became finer when PTMC content was increased. FT-IR and DSC analysis indicated that the molecular interactions between PCL and PTMC were weak and they were phase-separated in the fibers. Due to the biocompatible properties of PCL and PTMC, the spun nanofibers developed here could have applications in the biomedical field.     

Novel hybrid scaffolds for the cultivation of osteoblast cells

In this study, natural biodegradable polysaccharide, chitosan, and synthetic biodegradable polymer, poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) were used to prepare 3D, hybrid polymeric tissue scaffolds (PCL/chitosan blend and PCL/chitosan/PCL layer by layer scaffolds) by using the electrospinning technique. The hybrid scaffolds were developed through HA addition to accelerate osteoblast cell growth. Characteristic examinations of the scaffolds were performed by micrometer, SEM, contact angle measurement system, ATR-FTIR, tensile machine and swelling experiments. The thickness of all electrospun scaffolds was determined in the range of 0.010 ± 0.001-0.012 ± 0.002 mm. In order to optimize electrospinning processes, suitable bead-free and uniform scaffolds were selected by using SEM images. Blending of PCL with chitosan resulted in better hydrophilicity for the PCL/chitosan scaffolds. The characteristic peaks of PCL and chitosan in the blend and layer by layer nanofibers were observed. The PCL/chitosan/PCL layer by layer structure had higher elastic modulus and tensile strength values than both individual PCL and chitosan structures. The layer by layer scaffolds exhibited the PBS absorption values of 184.2; 197.2% which were higher than those of PCL scaffolds but lower than those of PCL/chitosan blend scaffolds. SaOs-2 osteosarcoma cell culture studies showed that the highest ALP activities belonged to novel PCL/chitosan/PCL layer by layer scaffolds meaning better cell differentiation on the surfaces.     

Blends of aliphatic polyesters. VI. Lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis and visualized phase structure of biodegradable blends from poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and poly(L-lactide)

Phase-separated biodegradable polymer blends were prepared from poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), and Rhizopus arrhizus lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis and phase structure of the blend films were investigated. Gravimetry revealed that the lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of PCL in PCL- and PLLA-rich phases is disturbed by the presence of PLLA. Polarimetry confirmed the occurrence of a predominant hydrolysis of PCL and subsequent removal of the hydrolyzed water-soluble PCL oligomers in the blend films. Gravimetry and gel permeation chromatography of the non-blended PLLA film indicated that R. arrhizus lipase has no catalytic effect on the hydrolysis of PLLA. The phase structure of the blend films could be visualized by selective enzymatic removal of one component and subsequent scanning electron microscopic observation.     

Crystallization behavior and environmental biodegradability of the blend films of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) with chitin and chitosan

Crystallization behavior and environmental biodegradability were investigated for the films of bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) blends with chitin and chitosan. The blend films showed X-ray diffractive peaks that arose from the PHB crystalline component. It was suggested that the lamellar thickness of the PHB crystalline component in the blends was large enough to show detectable X-ray diffractive peaks, but this was too small to show observable melting endotherm in the DSC thermogram and the crystalline band absorption in the FT-IR spectrum. In the PHB/chitin and PHB/chitosan blends, thermal transition temperatures of PHB amorphous region observed by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis were almost the same as that of neat PHB. Both the PHB/chitin and the PHB/chitosan blend films biodegraded in an environmental medium. Several blend films showed faster biodegradation than the pure-state component polymers.     

Composition dependence of the crystallization behavior and morphology of the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diblock copolymer

The crystallization behavior and morphology of the crystalline-crystalline poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diblock copolymer (PEO-b-PCL) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and hot-stage polarized optical microscope (POM). The mutual effects between the PEO and PCL blocks were significant, leading to the obvious composition dependence of the crystallization behavior and morphology of PEO-b-PCL. In this study, the PEO block length was fixed (Mn = 5000) and the weight ratio of PCL/PEO was tailored by changing the PCL block length. Both blocks could crystallize in PEO-b-PCL with the PCL weight fraction (WFPCL) of 0.23-0.87. For the sample with the WFPCL of 0.36 or less, the PEO block crystallized first, resulting in the obvious confinement of the PCL block and vice versa for the sample with WFPCL of 0.43 or more. With increasing WFPCL, the crystallinity of PEO reduced continuously while the variation of the PCL crystallinity exhibited a maximum. The long period of PEO-b-PCL increased with increasing WFPCL from 0.16 to 0.50 but then decreased with the further increase of WFPCL due to the interaction of the respective variation of the thicknesses of the PEO and PCL crystalline lamellae. Only the PEO spherulites were observed in samples with WFPCL of 0.16-0.36 by POM, in contrast to only the PCL spherulites in samples with WFPCL of 0.56-0.87. For samples with WFPCL of 0.43 and 0.50, a unique concentric spherulite was observed. The morphology of the inner and outer portions of the concentric spherulites was determined by the PCL and PEO spherulites, respectively. The growth rate of the PEO spherulites reduced rapidly with increasing WFPCL from 0 to 0.50. However, when increasing WFPCL from 0.43 to 0.87, the variation of the growth rate of the PCL spherulites exhibited a maximum rather than a monotonic change.     

Fabrication and evaluation of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/silk fibroin blend nanofibrous scaffold

In this study we investigated the blend electrospinning of poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) and silk fibroin (SF) to improve the biodegradability and biocompatibility of PCL‐based nanofibrous scaffolds. Optimal conditions to fabricate PCL/SF (50/50) blend nanofiber were established for electrospinning using formic acid as a cosolvent and three‐dimensional (3D) PCL/SF blend nanofibrous scaffolds were prepared by a modified electrospinning process using methanol coagulation bath. The physical properties of 2D PCL/SF blend nanofiber mats and 3D highly porous blend nanofibrous scaffolds were measured and compared. To evaluate cytocompatibility of the 3D blend scaffolds as compared to 3D PCL nanofibrous scaffold, normal human dermal fibroblasts were cultured. It is concluded that biodegradability and cytocompatibility could be improved for the 3D highly porous PCL/SF (50/50) blend nanofibrous scaffold prepared by blending PCL with SF in electrospinning. In addition to the blending of PCL and SF, the 3D structure and high porosity of electrospun nanofiber assemblies may also be important factors for enhancing the performance of scaffolds. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 97: 265–275, 2012.     

Nanofibers from blends of polyvinyl alcohol and polyhydroxy butyrate as potential scaffold material for tissue engineering of skin

Nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning from pure polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and their blends. Miscibility and morphology of both polymers in the nanofiber blends were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), revealing that PVA and PHB were miscible with good compatibility. DSC also revealed suppression of crystallinity of PHB in the blend nanofibers with increasing proportion of PVA. The hydrolytic degradation of PHB was accelerated with increasing PVA fraction. Cell culture experiments with a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and dermal fibroblast on the electrospun PHB and PVA/PHB blend nanofibers showed maximum adhesion and proliferation on pure PHB. However, the addition of 5 wt % PVA to PHB inhibited growth of HaCaT cells but not of fibroblasts. On the contrary, adhesion and proliferation of HaCaT cells were promoted on PVA/PHB (50/50) fibers, which inhibited growth of fibroblasts.     

Synthesis of chitosan–polycaprolactone blend for control delivery of ofloxacin drug

In the present research work chitosan has been blended with different amounts of polycaprolactone (PCL) (80:20, 75:25, 60:40 and 50:50) for using them for control delivery of ofloxacin. The blends were characterized by Fourier transmission infra red spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. From the FTIR spectra the various groups present in chitosan and PCL blend were monitored. The homogeneity, morphology and crystallinity of the blends were ascertained from SEM and XRD data, respectively. The swelling studies have been measured at different drug loading. The kinetics of the drug delivery system has been systematically studied. Drug release kinetics was analyzed by plotting the cumulative release data vs. time by fitting to an exponential equation which indicated the non-Fickian type of kinetics. The drug release was investigated at different pH medium and it was found that the drug release depends upon the pH medium as well as the nature of matrix.     

XRD studies of UV-irradiated chitin based polyurethane elastomers

Chitin based polyurethane (PU) elastomers constituted on 4,4´-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and extended with blends of chitin/1,4-butane diol were synthesized via two step polymerization technique. The synthesized samples were irradiated for 50, 100 and 200 h in an UV exposure chamber as such the spectral distribution of the light is good match for terrestrial solar radiation. The crystalline behavior of the irradiated PU samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) techniques. The effect of irradiation time and chitin contents on crystallinity were studied and investigated. The maximum decrease in the crystalline behavior of samples after irradiation observed by XRD, DSC and tan δ peaks were found for the PU samples extended with lower contents of chitin (chitin/BDO; 0/100). In comparison with irradiation times the 200 h irradiation showed maximum change in the crystalline behavior.     

Polycaprolactone-poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers as potential substitutes for di(ethylhexyl) phthalate in flexible poly(vinyl chloride) formulations

New high-molecular-weight hydrophobic/hydrophilic segmented copolymers of poly(ester ether carbonate) structure, containing poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments in their main chain, were synthesized and characterized. These copolymers were obtained by a two-step chain-extension reaction carried out in the presence of alpha,omega-dihydroxy-oligoPCL of molecular weight 1250 and PEG samples of molecular weight 150, 400, 600, 1000, and 2000. The molecular structures of all synthesized materials were characterized by means of (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, their molecular weights were determined by means of size exclusion chromatography, and their thermal properties were obtained by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The poly(ester ether carbonate)s of this study are partly or totally miscible at least up to 50 wt % with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and could be used to produce flexible PVC formulations. The miscibility between PVC and the poly(ester ether carbonate)s reported in this paper was investigated by means of DSC and DMA analysis. PVC blends were also analyzed by determining their swellability and the amount of extractables in aqueous media. By comparison purposes, the chain-extension product of PCL1250, that is, PCL polycarbonate, was also synthesized and characterized. The results obtained demonstrated that the copolymers with shortest PEG segment length, i.e. PEG150, 400, and 600, give the best results in terms of miscibility with PVC and lead to blends with maximum resistance to extraction by water. Therefore, they represent, in principle, good substitutes for low-molecular-weight, leachable PVC plasticizers, such as di(ethylhexyl) phthalate.     

Study on cast membranes and electrospun nanofibers made from keratin/fibroin blends

Keratin regenerated from wool and fibroin regenerated from silk were mixed in different proportions using formic acid as the common solvent. Both solutions were cast to obtain films and electrospun to produce nanofibers. Scanning electron microscopy investigation showed that, for all electrospun blends (except for 100% keratin where bead defects are present), the fiber diameter of the mats ranged from 900 (pure fibroin) to 160 nm (pure keratin). FTIR and DSC analysis showed that the secondary structure of the proteins was influenced by the blend ratios and the process used (casting or electrospinning). Prevalence of beta-sheet supramolecular structures was observed in the films, while proteins assembled in alpha-helix/random coil structures were observed in nanofibers. Higher solution viscosity, thinner filaments, and differences in the thermal and structural properties were observed for the 50/50 blend because of the enhanced interactions between the proteins.     

Open-Source Selective Laser Sintering (OpenSLS) of Nylon and Biocompatible Polycaprolactone

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing process that uses a laser to fuse powdered starting materials into solid 3D structures. Despite the potential for fabrication of complex, high-resolution structures with SLS using diverse starting materials (including biomaterials), prohibitive costs of commercial SLS systems have hindered the wide adoption of this technology in the scientific community. Here, we developed a low-cost, open-source SLS system (OpenSLS) and demonstrated its capacity to fabricate structures in nylon with sub-millimeter features and overhanging regions. Subsequently, we demonstrated fabrication of polycaprolactone (PCL) into macroporous structures such as a diamond lattice. Widespread interest in using PCL for bone tissue engineering suggests that PCL lattices are relevant model scaffold geometries for engineering bone. SLS of materials with large powder grain size (~500 μm) leads to part surfaces with high roughness, so we further introduced a simple vapor-smoothing technique to reduce the surface roughness of sintered PCL structures which further improves their elastic modulus and yield stress. Vapor-smoothed PCL can also be used for sacrificial templating of perfusable fluidic networks within orthogonal materials such as poly(dimethylsiloxane) silicone. Finally, we demonstrated that human mesenchymal stem cells were able to adhere, survive, and differentiate down an osteogenic lineage on sintered and smoothed PCL surfaces, suggesting that OpenSLS has the potential to produce PCL scaffolds useful for cell studies. OpenSLS provides the scientific community with an accessible platform for the study of laser sintering and the fabrication of complex geometries in diverse materials.     

Structure and properties of carboxymethyl cellulose/soy protein isolate blend edible films crosslinked by Maillard reactions

Edible films based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and soy protein isolate (SPI), compatibilized by glycerol, were prepared by solution casting. The effects of CMC content on blend structure, thermal stability, water solubility and water sorption, and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that Maillard reactions occurred between CMC and SPI, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) scans indicated that the Maillard reactions greatly reduced the crystallinity of SPI. According to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, CMC/SPI blends had a single glass transition temperature (T_g) between 75 and 100 °C, indicating that CMC and SPI form one phase blends. Increasing the CMC content improved the mechanical properties and reduced the water sensitivity of blend films. The results indicate that the structure and properties of SPI edible films were modified and improved by blending with CMC.     

Melting and crystallization behaviors of biodegradable polymers enzymatically coalesced from their cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

Inclusion complexed (IC) and coalesced biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), and their diblock copolymer (PCL-b-PLLA) were achieved by forming ICs between host alpha-cyclodextrin(alpha-CD) and guest PCL, PLLA, and PCL-b-PLLA, followed by removing the alpha-CD host with an amylase enzyme. FTIR spectra of the coalesced polymers reveal that the host alpha-CD can be completely removed, without polymer degradation, by treatment with an amylase enzyme. The melting and crystallization behavior of these CD-IC treated polymers, which are crystallizable, biodegradable, and bioabsorbable, are investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy. Results show that coalescence increased the crystallinities of the homopolymers but decreased that of the diblock copolymer. The Avrami exponent (n), derived from both isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization models for homo-PCL and -PLLA and the PCL and PLLA blocks in the diblock copolymer samples coalesced from their ICs, is close to 4, indicating homogeneous crystallization, whereas crystallization of the blocks in the as-synthesized diblock copolymer yields an Avrami exponent around 3, indicating heterogeneous crystallization. All of these results demonstrate that the PCL and PLLA homopolymers and blocks in the IC-coalesced samples are more readily and homogeneously crystallized than those in the as-synthesized samples or their physical blend, even though the level of crystallinity in the IC-coalesced diblock copolymer is significantly lower. Moreover, unlike the as-synthesized diblock copolymer, the crystallization of PCL and PLLA blocks in the IC-coalesced diblock copolymer are not influenced by their covalent connection.