Comparing the in-vitro biodegradation kinetics of commercial and synthesized polycaprolactone films in different enzyme solutions

In the present work, the biodegradation behaviors were compared and calculated for a commercial polycaprolactone and a synthesized polycaprolactone (PCL) in different enzyme solutions. The enzymes were esterase, lipolase, and savinase which are in the hydrolase class; the enzyme solutions were prepared one by one as an enzyme cocktail solution. Degradation experiments were carried out at 37°C and a pH 7.4. Two quantitative methods were used to follow the biodegradation. All samples were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. The weight and bond structures were recorded during the period of biodegradation. The degradation rates constant (k) values of all the experiments were evaluated from the changes in the number average of the molecular weight. The results showed that the lipolase enzyme solutions could erode polymer films, but that the esterase enzyme solution could only decrease molecular weights of polymers and enzyme solutions which include savinase which had lower erosion times than the other enzyme cocktails. Degradation rates for the decreasing of molecular weight and changing of polymer chains was very different between commercial and synthesized polymer films. Molecular weight change rates of synthesized PCL samples were higher than the commercial PCL.