Ke. Uhrich et al., IN-VITRO DEGRADATION CHARACTERISTICS OF POLY(ANHYDRIDE-IMIDES) CONTAINING PYROMELLITYLIMIDOALANINE, Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry, 34(7), 1996, pp. 1261-1269
The in vitro degradation characteristics of poly(anhydride-imides) con
taining pyromellitylimidoalanine, with either 1,6-bis(carboxyphenoxy)h
exane (CPH) or sebacic acid (SA) were assessed. The copolymers contain
ed up to 50 mol % of the imide monomer, pyromellitylimidoalanine (PMA-
ala). Degradation was pH sensitive, being enhanced under basic conditi
ons. Control of degradation times from 2 days to 2 months was achieved
by the selection of appropriate monomer units in the polymer backbone
. Monomers were chosen based on their solubility in aqueous media, as
well as how they influenced the hydrophobicity and crystallinity of th
e polymer matrices. Polymer degradation was followed by ultraviolet sp
ectroscopy and high-pressure liquid chromatography. Increasing the amo
unt of imide monomer, PMA-ala, and the use of SA (rather than CPH) as
the comonomer increased the degradation rate of the polymer matrices.
(C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.