Novel lipase-catalyzed ring-opening copolymerization of oxiranes and dicarboxylic anhydride forming polyesters bearing carboxyl groups and their physicochemical properties and biodegradability

Oxiranes, such as benzyl glycidate and glycidyl phenyl ether, were copolyme rized with dicarboxylic anhydride by lipase at a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees C to yield the corresponding polyesters bearing carboxyl dr phe nyl groups. Bulk polymerization, especially at 80 degrees C, and preferably using porcine pancreatic lipase, gave biodegradable polyesters with a mole cular weight of greater than 10000. Poly(sodium carboxylate)s containing es ter linkages in the backbone prepared in this study were readily biodegrada ble by the activated sludge and exhibited a calcium ion sequestration capac ity.