Abstract
Two-component random copolypeptide P(HPG-ran-LA) fibers consisting of N-hydroxypropyl-L-glutamine and L-alanine with different copolymer composition were prepared by an aminolysis reaction of poly(γ-methyl-L-glutamate/L-alanine) fibers with 3-amino-1-propanol, followed by crosslinking reaction with 1, 8-octamethylene diamine. The in vitro hydrolysis was carried out using ficin, one of proteases. The tensile properties and the in vitro hydrolysis of these hydrophilic fibers were highly dependent on the degree of swelling in phosphate buffer solution. The study of the weight loss of the fibers upon the enzymatic hydrolysis suggested that the degradation of the fibers occurred gradually from their surface into their core. Scanning electron microscopy also supported the surface hydrolysis. The weight loss of the fibers in the course of hydrolysis took place almost in parallel with the strength loss of the fibers.
