Polycaprolactone enzymatic degradation

Mochizuki, M., Hirano, M., Kanmuri, Y., Kudo, K., and Tokiwa, Y., 1995, Hydrolysis of polycaprolactone fibers by lipase - Effects of draw ratio on enzymatic degradation./ Appl. Polym. Sci. 55 289-296. 

PCL - The polycaprolactone is derived from 8-caprolactone by ring-opening polymerization catalyzed by transition metal compounds. Toldwa and Suzuki (Tokiwa and Suzuki, 1977) have reported that PCL can be enzymatically degraded in presence of fungi and the biodegradation process has been discussed by Bastioli (Bastioli, 1998). 

M. Mochizuki, M. Hirano, Y. Kanmuri, K. Kudo and Y. Tokiwa, "Hydrolysis of polycaprolactone fibers by lipase effects of draw ratio on enzymatic degradation"/ Appl Polym. Set, 55, 289-296 (1995). 

The inhibitory effects of PVA can also be found in degradation studies of polycaprolactones (PCLs). These polyesters can be readily split by lipase enzymes binding to hydrophobic domains of that linear substrate. PVA/PCL films in contrast are not biodegradable by PCL-degrading microorganisms. It can be assumed that the surface properties of PCL change upon interaction with PVA in a manner that enzymatic accessibility of the hydrolysable PCL backbone motifs is decreased. 

The type of enzyme to be used, and quantification of degradation, will depend on the polymer being screened. For example, Mochizukiet studied the effects of draw ratio of polycaprolactone (PCL) fibres on enzymatic hydrolysis by lipase. Degradability of PCL fibres was monitored... 

The mechanisms of biodegradation of polylactide, polycaprolactone and caprolactone copolymers with dilactide copolymer, valerolactone copolymer, and decalactone copolymer in the rabbit were shown to be qualitatively similar. The rate of the first stage of the degradation process, non enzymatic random hydrolytic chain scission, was found to vary by an order of magnitude and was dependent on morphological as well as chemical effects. 17 refs. 

---