HYDROPHILIC-HYDROPHOBIC BINARY-SYSTEMS OF POLY(2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE) AND POLYCAPROLACTONE .2. DEGRADATION

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogels can be mechanicall y reinforced by the incorporation of a hydrophobic biodegradable polye ster, polycaprolactone (PCL). The influence of PHEMA on the selective degradability of PCL in the modified hydrogels was investigated by hyd rolysis, biodegradation and chemical degradation. The swelling of the PHEMA component in hydrophilic reagents provided hydrolytic exposure t o PCL domains. In hydrophobic reagents, the PHEMA component acted as a barrier that retarded the diffusion of hydrophobic acid or base into the network.