LAUSR

Abstract Castor oil-based monomers and derivatives are favorable starting materials for the synthesis of polymers for biomedical applications. A series of polymers containing ricinoleic acid (extracted from cold-pressed castor oil) as a prime monomer along with glutaric acid and various linear aliphatic α,ω-diols were synthesized through self-catalyzed melt polycondensation method. The unsaturated prepolymers formed were cured under various temperature conditions to obtain cross-linked polymers. The polyesters were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectral techniques. Their molecular weights were determined using GPC and the thermal properties were studied using TGA and DSC techniques. These polyesters possess wide range of elastic modulus from 0.24 Mpa to 5.15 Mpa. The biodegradability, in vitro hydrolytic degradation and cell viability in HepG2 human liver cells display promising properties as tissue scaffolds or drug delivery vehicles.