As the ultra‑high‑molecular‑weight flagship variant of the PCL‑COOH series, this 20 kDa carboxyl‑terminated poly(ε‑caprolactone) is characterized by dense chain entanglement and maximum crystallinity relative to all lower‑molecular‑weight counterparts. Its terminal carboxylic acid groups can be activated via EDC/NHS chemistry to form stable amide covalent linkages with amine‑functionalized peptides, growth factors and solid substrate surfaces. Driven by extensive intermolecular chain packing, hydrolytic erosion proceeds on a multi‑month timescale, and fabricated solid structures can withstand implant‑relevant mechanical loads within subcutaneous tissue microenvironments. Distinct from medium‑molecular‑weight grades optimized for circulating nanoparticles, this polymer is primarily engineered for solid‑state implant and scaffold‑based workflows, where long‑term mechanical persistence and post‑fabrication covalent bio‑functionalization are core experimental requirements.
Key Features: ‑ Ultra‑high‑molecular‑weight highly crystalline PCL backbone end‑capped with carboxylic‑acid groups; dense chain entanglement delivers outstanding mechanical toughness for implant‑oriented polymer constructs ‑ Multi‑month ultra‑slow hydrolytic degradation profile; retains complete structural integrity throughout prolonged in‑vivo implant cycles before gradual bulk matrix erosion occurs ‑ Preserved carboxyl‑group reactivity for EDC/NHS‑mediated amide conjugation, enabling surface bio‑modification even for dense, high‑crystallinity polymer scaffolds ‑ Excellent processability for electrospinning and solvent casting; produces dimension‑resilient fibres and implant membranes resistant to deformation under tissue‑environment conditions ‑ Spectroscopically validated carboxyl end‑group conversion; strictly controlled residual monomer and catalyst levels suitable for advanced implant‑focused pre‑clinical laboratory research
Applications: ‑ EDC/NHS‑activated bio‑functionalized electrospun implant scaffolds for covalent immobilization of amine‑bearing bioactive factors in multi‑month tissue‑engineering research ‑ Fabrication of surface‑tunable solid polymer implant prototypes requiring long‑term mechanical durability and site‑specific biomolecule immobilization ‑ Development of local long‑acting drug‑release implant devices where scaffold structural integrity must be sustained across multi‑month in‑vivo observation windows ‑ Preparation of amide‑linked polymer‑biomolecule conjugates tailored for implant‑tissue interface remodelling, rather than intravenous circulating nanoparticle applications ‑ Pre‑screening of implant‑grade carboxyl‑terminated polyesters for translational pre‑clinical research pipelines
Handling & Storage: Store lyophilized polymer powder at −20 °C under dry inert‑gas atmosphere. Although carboxylic‑acid end‑groups possess good intrinsic chemical stability, prolonged moisture exposure will trigger random ester‑chain hydrolysis and induce molecular‑weight distribution drift. Maintain sealed vials inside a desiccator and achieve full room‑temperature thermal equilibration prior to opening, to avoid water‑vapour‑caused sample contamination. Prepare working solutions exclusively with anhydrous organic solvents immediately before experimental manipulation; long‑term storage of pre‑dissolved polymer stock solutions is not recommended. This material is intended for laboratory research only and has not been authorized for human clinical use.
AxisPharm offers 5000+ PEG Linkers with high purity. Different kinds of PEG Reagents may be available by custom synthesis.