AUTHOR=Li Wei , Lin Meina , Wang Chenchao , Lu Yongping , Sui Yu , Ni Xiang , Guo Jing , Jiang Miao , Yang Liqun , Cui Hong 

TITLE=In vitro enzymatic degradation of the PTMC/cross-linked PEGDA blends

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1253221

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2023.1253221

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Poly(1,3-trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) is a flexible amorphous polymer with good degradability and biocompatibility. The degradation of PTMC is critical for its application as a degradable polymer, more convenient and easy-to-control cross-linking strategies for preparing PTMC are required.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The blends of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) were prepared by mixing photoactive PEGDA and PTMC and subsequently photopolymerizing the mixture with uv light. The physical properties and <italic>in vitro</italic> enzymatic degradation of the resultant PTMC/cross-linked PEGDA blends were investigated.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The results showed that the gel fraction of PTMC/cross-linked PEGDA blends increased while the swelling degree decreased with the content of PEGDA dosage. The results of <italic>in vitro</italic> enzymatic degradation confirmed that the degradation of PTMC/cross-linked PEGDA blends in the lipase solution occurred under the surface erosion mechanism, and the introduction of the uv cross-linked PEGDA significantly improved the resistance to lipase erosion of PTMC; the higher the cross-linking degree, the lower the mass loss.</p><p><bold>Discussion:</bold> The results indicated that the blends/cross-linking via PEGDA is a simple and effective strategy to tailor the degradation rate of PTMC.</p>