Polyglycerol Sebacate Elastomer: A Critical Overview of Synthetic Methods and Characterisation Techniques

Poly (glycerol sebacate) is a widely studied elastomeric copolymer obtained from the
polycondensation of two bioresorbable monomers, glycerol and sebacic acid. Due to its biocompatibility
and the possibility to tailor its biodegradability rate and mechanical properties, PGS has
gained lots of interest in the last two decades, especially in the soft tissue engineering field. Different
synthetic approaches have been proposed, ranging from classic thermal polyesterification and curing
to microwave-assisted organic synthesis, UV crosslinking and enzymatic catalysis. Each technique,
characterized by its advantages and disadvantages, can be tailored by controlling the crosslinking
density, which depends on specific synthetic parameters. In this work, classic and alternative synthetic
methods, as well as characterisation and tailoring techniques, are critically reviewed with the
aim to provide a valuable tool for the reproducible and customized production of PGS for tissue
engineering applications.