Biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymers have drawn considerable attention because of their mechanical properties that mimic human soft tissue. Poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL), the copolymer of L-lactic (LA) and ε-caprolactone (CL), has been applied in many tissue engineering and regenerative medicine fields. However, both the synthesis of PLCL and the structure-activity relationship of the copolymer need to be further investigated to allow tuning of different mechanical properties. The synthesis conditions of PLCL were optimized to increase the yield and improve the copolymer properties. The synthetic process was evaluated by while varying the molar ratio of the monomers and polymerization time. The mechanical properties of the copolymer were investigated from the macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Changes in the polymerization time and feed ratio resulted in the difference in the LA and CL content, which, in turn, caused the PLCL to exhibit different properties. The PLCL obtained with a feed ratio of 1:1 (LA:CL) and a polymerization time of 30 h has the best toughness and elasticity. The developed PLCL may have applications in dynamic mechanical environment, such as vascular tissue engineering.

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The frequent occurrence of oil leaks and air pollution has had devastating and long-term impacts on the aquatic environment. Therefore, it is urgent to effectively address water sources and environments polluted by oil leaks. In this study, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)/Mxene nanosheet composites with nanoscale double pore structures were constructed by combining PTFE particles with Mxene nanosheets, which improved the hydrophilicity, oil absorption capacity, and oil–water separation performance of the material, which relied on the degree of expansion and the Mxene content. The composition of the ePTFE/Mxene composites was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the microstructure and morphology of the composites were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Oil and water contact angle tests showed that the ePTFE/Mxene composites have good hydrophilicity and lipophilicity. Oil absorption tests showed that ePTFE/Mxene has good oil absorption capacity and reusability. Due to their amphiphilic nature and their efficient oil absorption capacities, the ePTFE/Mxene nanosheet composites with dual pore structures exhibited good potential for practical applications in oil spill remediation and water separation/remediation.

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