Enzymatic degradation of block copolymers prepared from epsilon-caprolactone and poly(ethylene glycol).
Block copolymers were prepared by ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone in the presence of monohydroxyl or dihydroxyl poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), using Zn powder as catalyst. The resulting poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)-PEG diblock and PCL-PEG-PCL triblock copolymers were characterized by various analytical techniques such as NMR, size-exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. Both copolymers were semicrystalline polymers, the crystalline structure being of the PCL type. Films were prepared by casting dichloromethane solutions of the polymers on a glass plate. Square samples with dimensions of 10 x 10 mm were allowed to degrade in a pH = 7.0 phosphate buffer solution containing Pseudomonas lipase. Data showed that the introduction of PEG blocks did not decrease the degradation rate of poly(epsilon-caprolactone).
Li
Suming
S
Centre de Recherche sur les Biopolymères Artificiels, Faculté de Pharmacie, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France. lisuming@pharma.univ-montp1.fr
Garreau
Henri
H
Pauvert
Bernard
B
McGrath
Jonathan
J
Toniolo
Alexandra
A
Vert
Michel
M
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002208:Caproates / Q000378:metabolism; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000201:enzymology; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D002208:Caproates; D007783:Lactones; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C121056:caprolactone; D008049:Lipase