Degradation and compatibility behaviors of poly(glycolic acid) grafted chitosan

► Chitosan-g-poly(glycolic acid) copolymer was prepared without using a catalyst. ► Degradation rate of copolymer increased dramatically compared with that of chitosan. ► Degradation rate was controlled by the molar ratio of glycolic acid to chitosan. ► In vitro cytotoxicity tests revealed that the copolymer has good biocompatibility. ► The copolymer has a great potential to meet diverse needs in biomedical fields.