ENZYMATIC-HYDROLYSIS OF POLY(D,L-LACTIDE) SPREAD MONOLAYERS BY CUTINASE

The enzymatic hydrolysis of a model poly(D, L-lactide) by cutinase was studied by using a barostat surface balance. A theoretical approach b ased on the adaptation of the Michaelis-Menten scheme at the interface and a process of random fragmentation of the macromolecules was devel oped. The role of the interfacial organisation of the reaction product s was discussed. Hydrolysis rate constant values and the specific acti vity were estimated and compared with those obtained for the hydrolysi s of lipid monolayers. The process of fragmentation of the interfacial polymer structures was visualised by using AFM imaging.