Abstract
Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers were degraded by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) modified with copoly(L-glutamicacid/L-alanine) (EA) invitro.The degradation of PCL fibers by EA-modified LPL (EA-LPL) was assessed by the weightloss, mechanical properties loss such as tensile strength and ultimate elongation decrease.The results were compared with those obtained with free LPL.The degradation kinetics on the weight loss of PCL fibers suggested that the degradation of PCL fibers gradually proceeded from the surface of fibers into their core.The weight loss of PCL fibers in the course of EA-LPL digestion took place almost in parallel with the strength loss of PCL fibers, while thestrength loss took place at a higher rate than the weight loss of PCL fibers in the course of free LPLdigestion.The degradation of PCL fibers was found to depend on the draw ratio and crystallinity ofPCL fibers.
