Contrast effect on hydrolysis of poly(trimethylene carbonate) depending on accelerated species due to the hydrophilic oligo(ethylene glycol) units at side groups

Poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) is a biodegradable polymer which doesn't generate any acidic organic compounds after hydrolysis, leading to good biocompatible properties and biomedical application. Poly(TMCM-MOE3OM) and poly(TMCE-MOE4OM), bearing oligo ethylene glycol (OEG) at the side chain of PTMC, were selected to investigate in vitro accelerating hydrolysis behaviors at pH = 7.4 in a phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) through the use of Lipase and NaOHaq. Their degradation behaviors were in contrast to that of PTMC, resulting in the fast degradation in NaOHaq. and the slow degradation by Lipase. The contrast in results of degradations are due to the side chain of hydrophilic OEG which should interact with degradation species.