Sebacoyl Chloride Research Articles

Biodegradable and biocompatible nonisocyanate polyurethanes synthesized from bio-derived precursors

Despite the enormous use of polyurethanes (PUs) in multiple aspects of modern lifestyle, the industrial scale manufacturing of PUs uses toxic chemicals like isocyanates, phosgene till today. In addition, the non-biodegradability and non-biocompatibility of PUs and their debris are serious cause of concerns for the environment. To deal with these challenges, in the current work, a new approach is reported in which bio-derived non-isocyanate polyurethanes were synthesized by exploiting viable amino acid-based diamines and biscyclocarbonates from sebacoyl chloride and diglycerol derivatives in a readily doable process. The newly designed polyhydroxyurethanes (PHUs) exhibited remarkable biodegradability and biocompatibility (cell viability) in comparison with commercial diamine based PHUs. A series of PHUs were synthesized in bulk and solvent free green synthetic route by polycondensing library of amino acids (such as glycine, alanine, valine, and isoleucine etc.) based diamines consisting of varying alkyl chain lengths and biscyclocarbonates like sebacic biscyclocarbonate and diglycerol biscyclocarbonate etc. All the synthesized PHUs were thoroughly characterised by IR, NMR and HRMS spectroscopic techniques. The impact of chain length and molecular structure of the synthesized PHUs were also evaluated using DSC, TGA, SEC, water contact angle measurements and hydrolytic degradation studies. The molar masses of the PHUs obtained from the SEC analysis are in the range of ∼17,000–24,000 Da. The current study demonstrated that amino acids is one of the major degradation products and are biocompatible in in-vitro conditions. The PHUs and their degradable products showed excellent cell viability when studied in HEK293T cells that were carried out using microgram to milligram concentration of PHUs. The outcome of this work in comparison to conventional PHUs and polyurethanes clearly demonstrated good biocompatibility and hence drawing attention to potential applications in bio-adhesives, bio-implants, drug delivery, and green coatings etc. in the near future.

Optimization of synthesis parameters for polyamide 610: Strategic tailoring for superior latent heat performance

The study systematically optimizes the synthesis of polyamide 610 with the aim of improving latent heat and melting temperature to meet the demanding requirements of high-temperature heat storage applications using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results clarify the critical impact of reaction times, washing solvents, and molar ratios on these vital thermal characteristics. Samples exhibiting exceptional latent heat capacities at various mole ratios were further analyzed using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The TGA assessments were instrumental in determining the thermal degradation behaviors of the materials. At the same time, The DSC analysis was used for the determination of thermal properties of the materials, FTIR provided detailed insights into their molecular structures, and XRD elucidated the crystalline structure of the materials. The findings reveal that a specific mole ratio is essential for achieving superior thermal properties, indicative of the polymer's resilience and structural stability. It was evident that samples with a balanced molar ratio (1:1) and specific reaction time (60 min) showed the best latent heat, surpassing 80 J g-1, and melting temperatures up to 210 °C. A notable aspect of this research is the use of Sebacic Acid instead of the conventional Sebacoyl Chloride for synthesizing polyamide 610. The choice of Sebacic Acid was made due to its lower toxicity and the fact that its byproducts are easier to remove than those from sebacoyl chloride, which produces hydrochloric acid as a byproduct. The presence of HCL can lead to side reactions and negatively impact the reaction process. By using Sebacic Acid, we reduce the risk of such contaminants, thereby enhancing the thermal stability and performance of polyamide 610. This greener approach not only aligns with sustainable practices but also has significant implications for the performance of the polymer. In addition, the integration of RSM with comprehensive characterization techniques has been pivotal in elucidating the critical influence of synthesis parameters on material properties. This enhanced understanding holds the potential for significant contributions to the development of advanced materials for latent heat storage applications, combining sustainability with high performance.

Side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane hydroxamic acids and their liquid crystalline behaviour

The synthesis and properties of side chain polysiloxane hydroxamic acids have been described. The N-p substituted phenyl hydroxamic acids were synthesized by reacting p - allyloxy benzoyl chloride and acryloyloxy sebacoyl chloride with N-arylhydroxylamines in toluene medium, rendered basic with aqueous suspension of sodium bicarbonate at 0 °C or lower. The synthesized N-phenyl substituted hydroxamic acids were attached to poly(methylhydrosiloxane) via hydrosilylation reaction in the presence of platinum catalyst The polysiloxane hydroxamic acids were characterized by melting point, FT – IR, NMR and Mass spectral techniques. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the side chain polysiloxane hydroxamic acids with allyloxy and acryloylsebacoyloxy spacer have been studied by optical.polansed microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane hydroxamic acids with allyloxy spacer (N-p substituted phenyl p-[(3-polysiloxane propyloxy) benzo] hydroxamic acids, (PHA – 1 to PHA −4) show nematic phases, while the second series with acryloylsebacoyloxy spacer (N-p-substituted phenyl (3-polysiloxane propanone) octyl carbonyloxy hydroxamic acids, (PHA – 5 to PHA – 8) show nematic as well as smectic phases. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the side chain polysiloxane hydroxamic acids with allyloxy and acrylsebacoyloxy spacer have been studied.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Fluorescence Study of New Polyesters Derived from Curcumin Analogs

This work describes the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of a new series of polyesters. The polyesters were synthesized by condensation polymerization using curcumin analogs as one monomer while the other monomer was of sebacoyl chloride and adipoyl chloride. The chalcones monomers were prepared by aldol condensation reactions. The structure of the prepared polyesters was characterized by FTIR spectra. The thermal stability of the new polymers was measured by thermogravimetric method. The solubility of the polymers in organic solvents was also studied. The prepared polyesters were found to possess fluorescent properties, and some of them were found to have good emissive properties.

Classical and ultrasonic preparation of new dendrimer–Copper nanocomposites: Application in the catalytic reduction, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities

A new dendrimer based on citric acid and sebacoyl chloride was synthesized by Steglich esterification. The obtained dendrimer was used as a matrix for the dispersion of copper nanoparticles using classical and ultrasound methods. All materials were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and energ‐y‐dispersive ‐X‐ray spectroscopy. The obtained nanocomposites were tested against two Gram‐positive pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus), two Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), the organic dye methylene blue, and in the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazile radical scavenging assay. A comparative study between both methods in structural, morphological, and thermal properties as well as in the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and catalytic reduction activities was provided. All nanocomposites showed an excellent activity for all applications. The comparison between both synthesis methods shows the superiority of the sonication methods, especially via the catalytic reduction and the antioxidant activities, the classic method allows better thermal stability and a higher metal content with some cationic oxidation state in the obtained nanocomposites, but ultrasound allows a better dispersion with a fully reduced metal.

Growth of mesenchymal stem cells at the surface of silicone, mineral and plant-based oils

Bioemulsions are attractive platforms for the expansion of adherent cells in bioreactors. Their design relies on the self-assembly of protein nanosheets at liquid–liquid interfaces, displaying strong interfacial mechanical properties and promoting integrin-mediated cell adhesion. However, most systems developed to date have focused on fluorinated oils, which are unlikely to be accepted for direct implantation of resulting cell products for regenerative medicine, and protein nanosheets self-assembly at other interfaces has not been investigated. In this report, the composition of aliphatic pro-surfactants palmitoyl chloride and sebacoyl chloride, on the assembly kinetics of poly(L-lysine) at silicone oil interfaces and characterisation of ultimate interfacial shear mechanics and viscoelasticity is presented. The impact of the resulting nanosheets on the adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is investigated via immunostaining and fluorescence microscopy, demonstrating the engagement of the classic focal adhesion-actin cytoskeleton machinery. The ability of MSCs to proliferate at the corresponding interfaces is quantified. In addition, expansion of MSCs at other non-fluorinated oil interfaces, based on mineral and plant-based oils is investigated. Finally, the proof-of-concept of such non-fluorinated oil systems for the formulation of bioemulsions supporting stem cell adhesion and expansion is demonstrated.

Tailoring the selectivity of quasi-PIMs nanofiltration membrane via molecular flexibility of acyl chloride monomers for desalination from dye effluents

Nanofiltration is a promising technology to recover dye from textile wastewater with highly saline for sustainable resource recovery. However, it is difficult for the conventional piperazine-based nanofiltration membranes, which usually have a tight polyamide matrix structure, to precisely separate dye and salt in wastewater. In this study, 5,5,6’,6’-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3’,3’-tetramethyl spirobisindane (TTSBI) with rigidly contorted structure has been used instead of piperazine as aqueous-phase monomer to fabricate polyarylate (PAT) nanofiltration membranes with quasi-PIMs structure via interfacial polymerization (IP) with three types of acyl chloride, i.e., rigid trimesoyl chloride (TMC), short-chain glutaryl chloride (GC) and long-chain sebacoyl dichloride (SDC). The contorted structure of TTSBI introduces extra microporosity in nanofiltration membranes, and the differentia of three acyl chlorides in molecular flexibility further endows with tailoring the stacking density of as-formed PAT networks. The PAT NF membranes thereby exhibited high permeability and tunable size-selectivity in desalination from dye effluent. Among these PAT membranes, TTSBI-TMC membranes had the highest water flux of 480.5 LMH, nearly 7-fold increase compared traditional PA NF membranes, whereas TTSBI-SDC membranes had the highest dye rejection of 97.4%, and TTSBI-GC membrane had the relatively balanced dye desalination performance with high rejection 95.4% for Congo Red and 8.3% for NaCl accompanied by high flux of 402.4 LMH. Therefore, this study provides a new prospective for the fabrication of highly permeable nanofiltration membranes for precise separation.

Poly(pro-curcumin) Materials Exhibit Dual Release Rates and Prolonged Antioxidant Activity as Thin Films and Self-Assembled Particles.

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol that exhibits remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities; however, its clinical application is limited in part by its physiological instability. Here, we report the synthesis of curcumin-derived polyesters that release curcumin upon hydrolytic degradation to improve curcumin stability and solubility in physiological conditions. Curcumin was incorporated in the polymer backbone by a one-pot condensation polymerization in the presence of sebacoyl chloride and polyethylene glycol (PEG, Mn = 1 kDa). The thermal and mechanical properties, surface wettability, self-assembly behavior, and drug-release kinetics all depend sensitively on the mole percentage of curcumin incorporated in these statistical copolymers. Curcumin release was triggered by the hydrolysis of phenolic esters on the polymer backbone, which was confirmed using a PEGylated curcumin model compound, which represented a putative repeating unit within the polymer. The release rate of curcumin was controlled by the hydrophilicity of the polymers. Burst release (2 days) and extended release (>8 weeks) can be achieved from the same polymer depending on curcumin content in the copolymer. The materials can quench free radicals for at least 8 weeks and protect primary neurons from oxidative stress in vitro. Further, these copolymer materials could be processed into both thin films and self-assembled particles, depending on the solvent-based casting conditions. Finally, we envision that these materials may have potential for neural tissue engineering application, where antioxidant release can mitigate oxidative stress and the inflammatory response following neural injury.

Synthesis of Polyamide-Based Microcapsules via Interfacial Polymerization: Effect of Key Process Parameters.

Polyamide microcapsules have gathered significant research interest during the past years due to their good barrier properties; however, the potential of their application is limited due to the fragility of the polymeric membrane. Fully aliphatic polyamide microcapsules (PA MCs) were herein prepared from ethylene diamine and sebacoyl chloride via interfacial polymerization, and the effect of key encapsulation parameters, i.e., monomers ratio, core solvent, stirring rate and time during the polymerization step, were examined concerning attainable process yield and microcapsule properties (shell molecular weight and thermal properties, MC size and morphology). The process yield was found to be mainly influenced by the nature of the organic solvent, which was correlated to the diffusion potential of the diamine from the aqueous phase to the organic core through the polyamide membrane. Thus, spherical microcapsules with a size between 14 and 90 μm and a yield of 33% were prepared by using toluene as core solvent. Milder stirring during the polymerization step led to an improved microcapsule morphology; yet, the substantial improvement of mechanical properties remains a challenge.

A preliminary electrochemical study of crosslinked albumin and collagen membranes as diffusion barriers for potentially degradable chronic wound biosensors

AbstractThe biochemical monitoring of chronic wounds may help to tailor therapy with better clinical outcomes. Wound surface sensors would be appropriate for this, but their adhesion to the wound is likely to lead to tissue damage on retrieval. Degradable sensors offer a practical solution to this, but this would necessitate external degradable diffusion control membranes. In this study, we evaluated glutaraldehyde crosslinked albumen and collagen as potentially biodegradable barrier membranes. The diffusional transport of H2O2, ascorbate, and glucose was studied electrochemically. Albumin proved more selective for H2O2 against ascorbate, possibly due to its net negative charge. The thick (500–700 μm) membranes produced led to long response times (half‐life [t0.5], 500–700 s) but had the advantage of stabilizing the response in unstirred solution. This was possibly because the thicker membrane on the electrode surface moved the developing diffusion layer in solution further away from the electrode surface. A dense albumin layer was produced using sebacoyl chloride as a crosslinker which was impermeable to solute and could be used in future as a degradable sensor base. Also, non‐toxic poly(2,3‐dihydrothieno‐1,4‐dioxin)‐poly(styrenesulfonate) dispersed in crosslinked albumin furnished a conducting membrane able to function as a working electrode. Thus, crosslinked proteins offer scope for diverse membrane properties that might be useful for future, degradable wound monitoring sensors.

First use of grape waste-derived building blocks to yield antimicrobial materials

Grape marc is an underutilised waste material that poses significant environmental issues. This study offers the first proof-of-concept investigation into the polymerisation of both crude and purified Sauvignon blanc grape marc extracts using the diacyl chlorides terephthaloyl chloride, succinyl chloride, adipoyl chloride, sebacoyl chloride, and the tartaric acid derivative (4R,5R)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dicarbonyl dichloride to obtain new materials, in what to the best of our knowledge is the first reported example of a direct polymerisation of an agricultural waste extract. A total of 26 novel materials were prepared. It has also shown that quercetin, a phenolic monomer found in grape marc extracts, can be polymerised with (4R,5R)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dicarbonyl dichloride to give a polymer that shows activity towards S. aureus.

Novel polyesters based on indazole moiety: Synthesis, characterization and applicability as efficient inhibitors for acidic X-65-steel corrosion

In this report, novel series of unsaturated polyesters Va­d and VIa­d containing indazole moiety were successfully prepared via interfacial polycondensation technique of indazole derivatives III and IV with different aromatic and aliphatic acid chlorides; isophthaloyl­, terephthaloyl­, adipoyl­, and sebacoyl chlorides. The prepared polyesters were categorized by elemental analyses, IR, 1H NMR, Mass spectra, GPC, Thermogravimetric (TGA), X-ray analyses (XRD), and therefore the morphology was examined by scanning microscopy (SEM). They showed high thermal stability and different morphology structure. The corrosion protection performance of prepared polyesters Va­d and VIa­d on X65­steel in molar oil of vitriol was assessed using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and SEM. Electrochemical tests (EIS and PDP) displayed polymers could efficiently impede the X65­steel corrosion and acted as inhibitors of the mixed type. At the optimal dose of 150 mg/L, the protection capacities of Va-d and VIa-d polymers ranged from 86.9% to 97.8%. adsorption of Va­d and VIa­d followed the adsorption model of Langmuir isotherm. Surface morphology examination by SEM also revealed that Va­d and VIa­d polymers form an efficient block layer on the surface of X65­steel to separate the acidic solution.

Synthesis, Characterization of Some Copper (II) Complexes with Ampicillin Derivatives and Study their Biological Activity

New metal ion complexes of ampicillin were synthesis by two steps, first by N-acylation with benzoyl chloride and sebacoyl chloride, In the second step, the prepared compounds were reacted with cupric ion to form Cu- complexes. FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, UV- visible, Elemental analysis, and, a theoretical study was used to distinguish the prepared complexes. The biological efficacy of synthesis compound was found more active against the bacteria.

Experimental and modeling study on adsorption of emerging contaminants onto hyper-crosslinked cellulose

The primary objective of this study was to synthesize a novel hyper-crosslinked cellulosic adsorbent (CLC) by a straightforward one-pot esterification reaction using cellulose and sebacoyl chloride as crosslinker agent. Efficient crosslinking of cellulose was confirmed by FTIR, CPMAS 13C NMR, elemental analysis, TGA, SEM and BET surface area analysis. The CLC material with high content of ester groups was employed to remove paracetamol (PCT) and niflumic acid (NFA) from aqueous solutions in batch adsorption experiments. The mesoporous structure of CLC created upon crosslinking was found to be a determinant in the adsorption behavior of the drugs. Indeed, PCT and NFA adsorption isotherms onto CLC were S-shaped and were adjusted by the Gu–Zhu, Frumkin–Fowler–Guggenheim and Hill–de Boer models. From the GZ isotherm model, the results indicate a cooperative adsorption mechanism leading to the formation of aggregates containing 2.53 and 4.25 molecules of PCT and NFA, respectively. Furthermore, FFG and HdB models reflect that the lateral interactions are attractive in nature for both drugs. The experimental kinetic data were fitted to the pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models, and the obtained parameters were linked to the aggregates arrangement of the drugs.

Synthesis of N,N′-bis(1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3-oxopyrazol-4-yl) sebacamide that ameliorate osteoarthritis symptoms and improve bone marrow matrix structure and cartilage alterations induced by monoiodoacetate in the rat model: “Suggested potent anti-inflammatory agent against COVID-19”

To assess the chondroprotective effect and influence of N,N′-bis(1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3-oxopyrazol-4-yl) sebacamide (dpdo) that was synthesized through the reaction of phenazone with sebacoyl chloride and screened for its biological activity especially as anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory agent in a monoiodoacetate (MA)-induced experimental osteoarthritis (OA) model. Thirty male albino rats weighing “190–200 g” were divided randomly into three groups (10 each): control, MA-induced OA, and MA-induced OA + dpdo. In MA-induced OA rat, the tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factors, reactive oxygen species, as well as all the mitochondrial markers such as mitochondria membrane potential, swelling mitochondria, cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV), and serum oxidative/antioxidant status (malondialdehyde level and activities of myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase) are elevated. Also, the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (complex II), levels of ATP, the level of glutathione (GSH), and thiol were markedly diminished in the MA-induced OA group compared to the normal control rats. These findings showed that mitochondrial function is associated with OA pathophysiological alterations and high gene expressions of (IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-1b) and suggests a promising use of dpdo as potential ameliorative agents in the animal model of OA and could act as anti-inflammatory agent in case of severe infection with COVID-19. It is clearly appeared in improving the bone cortex and bone marrow in the treated group with the novel compound in histological and transmission electron microscopic sections which is a very important issue today in fighting severe infections that have significant effects on the blood indices and declining of blood corpuscles like COVID-19, in addition to declining the genotoxicity and inflammation induced by MA in male rats. The novel synthesized compound was highly effective in improving all the above mentioned parameters.

Linear correlation between specific surface and grafting density of tunable aerogels of microfibrillated cellulose from different origins

Cellulose aerogels with variable specific surface areas were prepared by freeze-drying cellulose microfibrillar suspensions dispersed in mixtures of water and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). Varying the composition of solvent used for the suspensions and the origin and composition of the microfibrils allowed to extensively tune the specific surface area of these aerogels, with values ranging from 32 to 280 m2/g. Depending on the solvent mixture composition, these aerogels presented substantial morphological differences, attributed to the templating power of the various crystals obtained during the freezing of the solvent mixtures. The aerogels were hydrophobized with sebacoyl chloride in a gas-phase reaction operated under conditions of either full or partial derivatization of the accessible surface. For fully grafted specimens, a linear correlation could be established between the overall degree of substitution of the grafted samples and the specific surface area of the aerogels before grafting. From the slope of this correlation line, an average number of grafted molecules per surface area of approximately 3 molecules/nm² could be calculated. Atomic-scale models gave a plausible overview of the full surface coverage of the aerogel microfibrils in good agreement with the experimental data. Contact angle measurements confirmed the hydrophobicity of the grafted aerogels, as well as the presence of heterogeneities for the partially grafted samples.

Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polyesters Using Aromatic Rigid Diols, Unsaturated Fumaric Acid and Flexible Sebacic Acid

In the present study, seven different series of thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters (TLCPs) containing unsaturated fumaroyl chloride and flexible sebacoyl chloride were synthesized using the interfacial polymerization methodology. Homopolyesters prepared with saturated flexible spacer such as sebacoyl chloride were mesomorphic whereas homopolyesters synthesized using unsaturated aliphatic spacer such as fumaroyl chloride that was non-mesomorphic. Aromatic diad and triad based mesogenic diols were selected as rigid moiety for liquid crystalline phase formation. Within each series, copolyesters were synthesized by varying relative mole ratio of the above two aliphatic diacid chlorides. Most of the liquid crystalline polyesters showed solubility in phenol:tetrachloroethane (60:40) at 40 ᵒC.

Synthesis of cellulose microcrystals (CMC)/nylon 6,10 composite by incorporating CMC isolated from Pandanus ceylanicus

The paper presents a novel candidate plant: Pandanus ceylanicus (PC) for cellulose extraction. The plant showed an average of 91.5 ± 0.2 % of cellulose yield which is the highest yield for Pandanus species reported. Cellulose was extracted from the leaves of the plant by carrying out alkali and bleaching treatments, and cellulose microcrystals (CMC) were isolated from extracted cellulose fibers with sulphuric acid treatment. Chemical composition of PC leaves was investigated at different stages of treatment by using TAPPI standard methods. The extracted globular shaped CMC crystals had an average diameter less than a micro meter. Results revealed that PC leaves are an efficient source of micro-cellulose which result in a high yield than most lignocellulosic biomasses. The CMCs were successfully incorporated with nylon 6,10 by in-situ interfacial polymerization of sebacoyl chloride and hexamethylenediamine in the presence of CMC. The CMC/nylon 6,10 composite showed improved water absorption with low water retention time.

Synthesis and Characterization of Linear Thermally Stable polyester contain Schiff Bases

A copolymers are important compounds today because of their wide applications in various industrial and medical fields and in other fields. Therefore, the study of preparing many of these polymers has been studied. This research involved preparing linear polyester contain Schiff-base unit by interfacial polycondensation three type diacid chloride (Succinoyl Chloride, Adipoyl Chloride and sebacoyl Chloride) in a chloroform /water system employing phase transfer catalyst with monomer containing two hydroxyl which is derived from a 4-hydroxy aniline reacted with a 4-hydroxy benzaldehyde monomer. The monomer (EM1) and polyester (EM2, EM3, and EM4) were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and TGA analysis. The polyester–Schiff base so obtained show good thermal stability.

Facile preparation of tissue engineering scaffolds with pore size gradients using the muesli effect and their application to cell spheroid encapsulation.

Porous biodegradable scaffolds have many applications in bioengineering, ranging from cell culture and transplantation, to support structures, to induce blood vessel and tissue formation in vivo. While numerous strategies have been developed for the manufacture of porous scaffolds, it remains challenging to control the spatial organization of the pores. In this study, we introduce the use of the granular convection effect, also known as the muesli or brazil nut effect, to rapidly engineer particulate templates with a vertical size gradient. These templates can then be used to prepare scaffolds with pore size gradients. To demonstrate this approach, we prepared templates with particle size gradients, which were then infused with a prepolymer solution consisting of the pentaerythritol ethoxylate (polyol), sebacoyl chloride (acid chloride), and poly(caprolactone). Following curing, the template was dissolved to yield biodegradable polyester-ether scaffolds with pore size gradients that could be tuned depending on the size range of the particulates used. The application of these scaffolds was demonstrated using pancreatic islets, which were loaded via centrifugation and retained within the scaffold's pores without a decrease in viability. The proposed strategy provides a facile approach to prepare templates with spatially organized pores that could potentially be used for cell transplantation, or guided tissue formation.