ISSN:
0006-3525
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The preparation of copolypeptides consisting of L-aspartic acid and L-glutamic acid was performed to determine the effects of copolymer composition and sequential distributions on the rate of degradation by papain in a PECF (pseudoextracellular fluid) at pH 4.75 and 7.40, at 37.0°C, to simulate in vivo polymer degradation. Random copolymers consisting of β-benzyl L-aspartate and γ-benzyl L-glutamate were synthesized by the N-carboxyanhydride method. Water-soluble copolymers were obtained by successive reactions of side chains by anhydrous HBr treatment. All the samples were found to be degraded by random chain scission with papain. Further, the degradation data for the samples followed the Michaelis-Menten rate law, being the first order in papain concentration. The nature of side chains are important to the rate of degradation by papain and it was controlled by the comonomer composition as well as the sequential distribution of comonomers in the copolymer chains.
Additional Material:
9 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bip.360290310
