INTRODUCTIONThe development of polyesteramides (PEAs) bearing amino-acids was accompanied with a successful combination of favorable properties and biocompatibility[1]. Using lysine as a diamine in polymer chain brings additional level of control on polymer properties[2]. These polymers degrade enzymatically via surface erosion mechanism[3]. This study focuses on the exploitation of PEA structural features for biodegradation control and demonstrates that pendant carboxylic groups (Fig. 1) could be the key towards hydrolytic degradation without compromising the polymer performance and biocompatibility.METHODSPolymer degradation was studied in presence and absence of a-chymotrypsin. Samples were incubated in buffered medium at 37C and refreshed every 48 hours.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONPolymer 1 degrades in presence of a-chymotrypsin via surface erosion as evident on Fig. 1In contrast, polymers 2 to 4 lose weight in presence of enzyme however Mn of these polymers decreases over time indicating chain scission and bulk erosion. The polymer degradation comprises two independent components (surface and bulk erosion) which synergize at later stage to contribute to the complete degradation of the specimens. These polymers do show bulk erosion patterns of the same rate in absence of enzymes as well.CONCLUSIONS:Controlled modification on the pending functionalities of PEAs results in control on polymer degradation mechanism and introduces new hydrolytic degradation properties.[1] J. Polym. Sci. A: Polym Chem 2000, 37(4), 391[2] WO2007107358, WO2008055666[3] Bio-macromolecules 12 (2011) 3243

Engineered hydrolytic degradation of poly(ester amides) for medicine

247th National Meeting (2014)

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