Alginate grafted with poly(e-caprolactone): effect of enzymatic degradation on physicochemical properties

作者：Benykhlef Samir; Dulong Virginie; Bengharez Zohra; Picton Luc; Guemra Kaddour; Le Cerf Didier^*

来源：Polymer International, 2012, 61(9): 1456-1461.

DOI：10.1002/pi.4232

• block copolymer
• enzymatic treatment
• polysaccharide
• PCL

The paper discusses the enzymatic behaviour of a series of copolymers composed of alginate grafted with poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) of various lengths and degrees of substitution. The study is focused on viscosity measurements and pyrene probe fluorescence with or without two enzymes: alginate lyase, which breaks the alginate backbone; and esterase, which breaks PCL pendent groups. Alginate lyase is inactive at pH = 3.8 and degrades quickly all copolymers at pH = 6.3. The degradation is not complete and is slowed down by the presence of PCL. Esterase degrades only copolymers with long pendent PCL groups. It has no effect on copolymers when PCL has a length of 530 g mol-1. These systems are good candidates for controlled release of drugs using an enzymatic method.

• 出版日期2012-9