Synthesis and Testing of Polymers Susceptible to Hydrolysis by Proteolytic Enzymes.

摘要

Certain specific enzymes are known to cause hydrolysis of amide and ester bonds in naturally occurring macromolecules. The present research is directed toward synthesis, testing, and development of synthetic macromolecules containing biodegradable linkages found in natural polymers; the biodegradation of the polymer is measured after exposure to the specific enzymes effective for the type of bond that has been introduced. Emphasis has been placed in this work on substituted polyamides and polyesters. Degradation was followed by appearance of the known cleavage product, i.e., amino and carboxyl groups, by molecular weight reduction of the residual solids, and by weight loss. Additional fungal growth studies were conducted on polycaprolactone. Materials under study are benzylated nylons, amino acid-containing model compounds, polycaprolactone, polymers containing alpha-hydroxy acids, and modified gelatin.