Lipase-catalyzed biodegradation of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) blended with various polylactide-based polymers

Biomacromolecules. 2003 Mar-Apr;4(2):372-7. doi: 10.1021/bm025748j.

Abstract

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) was blended with various polylactide-based polymers and processed to films by the solution casting method. Blends of 25/75, 50/50, 75/25, 90/10, and 95/5 (w/w) poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/poly(l-lactide), a 95/5 (w/w) blend of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) with a poly(d-lactide), a 50/50 (w/w) poly(l-lactide)-poly(d-lactide) mixture, and a poly(l-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) copolymer were considered comparatively. The various phase-separated films were allowed to degrade in the presence of Pseudomonas lipase, biodegradation being monitored by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and environmental scanning electron microscopy. The formation of separated phases during solvent evaporation and their morphologies are discussed. The introduction of poly(l-lactide) dramatically decreased the degradation rate of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/poly(l-lactide) blends. The higher the percentage of poly(l-lactide), the slower the degradation, while the presence of cracks and increasing the lipase concentration acted in favor of the enzymatic degradation. Long-term enzymatic degradation of the various 95/5 blends was investigated over 480 h. The poly(epsilon-caprolactone) phase was enzymatically degraded by the lipase regardless of the blend type, the degradation rate depending on the nature of the co-components.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Lipase / metabolism*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Polyesters / metabolism*

Substances

  • Polyesters
  • polycaprolactone
  • poly(lactide)
  • Lipase