ENZYMATIC DEGRADATIONS OF POLYAMIDES CONTAINING L-LYSINE

Poly(L-lysine-sebacic acid) (PLS) and poly(L-lysine-terephtalic acid) (PLP) were synthesized by the low temperature polycondensations of sebacoyl chloride or terephthaloyl chloride with N,N'-bis(trimethylyl)-L-lysine-ethyl ester (TMSL), respectively. Hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation of PLS and PLP films were investigated by the determination of the weight loss, mechanical properties of their films, and SEM. The rate of enzymatic degradations of PLS films were found to be much higher than those of its hydrolytic degradation. However, the rate of enzymatic degradation of PLP films was the same as that of its hydrolytic degradation, and lower than that of PLS films. These results indicate that the aliphatic polyamide containing L-lysine is a biodegradable polymer.