IN-VITRO DEGRADATION CHARACTERISTICS OF POLY(ANHYDRIDE-IMIDES) CONTAINING TRIMELLITYLIMIDOGLYCINE

The in vitro degradation characteristics of poly(anhydride-imides) con taining trimellitylimidoglycine, with either 1,6-bis(carboxyphenoxy)he xane or sebacic acid, were assessed. The copolymers contained 10, 30, or 50 mol% of the imide monomer, trimellitylimidoglycine. Degradation was pH-sensitive, being enhanced under basic conditions. Control of de gradation times from 1 day to 2 months was achieved by the selection o f appropriate monomer units in the polymer backbone. Monomers were cho sen based on their solubility in aqueous media, as well as how they in fluenced the hydrophobicity of the polymer matrices. Increasing the am ount of imide monomer, trimellitylimidoglycine, and the use of sebacic acid rather than 1,6-bis(carboxyphenoxy)hexane as the comonomer incre ased the degradation rate of the polymer matrices. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.