ABSTRACT Alternating polyesters constituted by glycolic acid and ω-hydroxy acid units were synthesized by a thermal polycondensation with formation of metal halide salts as a driving force. Biocompatibility and enzymatic degradation were studied for two representative polymers derived from 4-hydroxy-butyric acid and 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid units. Enzymes with proteolytic (proteinase K) and esterease (lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia) activity were assayed at 37 ºC. The two studied samples were considered degradable, although interesting differences among them were found. Cytotoxicity was assayed using either L929 (fibroblast type) and Hep-2 (epithelial type) cell lines. Adhesion and proliferation studies were also carried out. Results were promising for the application of the new polymers as biomaterials.
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