Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.63, No.11, 1401-1411, 1997
In-Vitro Degradation Characteristics of Poly(Anhydride-Imides) Containing Trimellitylimidoglycine
The in vitro degradation characteristics of poly(anhydride-imides) containing trimellitylimidoglycine, with either 1,6-bis(carboxyphenoxy)hexane or sebacic acid, were assessed. The copolymers contained 10, 30, or 50 mol% of the imide monomer, trimellitylimidoglycine. Degradation was pH-sensitive, being enhanced under basic conditions. Control of degradation times from 1 day to 2 months was achieved by the selection of appropriate monomer units in the polymer backbone. Monomers were chosen based on their solubility in aqueous media, as well as how they influenced the hydrophobicity of the polymer matrices. Increasing the amount of imide monomer, trimellitylimidoglycine, and the use of sebacic acid rather than 1,6-bis(carboxyphenoxy)hexane as the comonomer increased the degradation rate of the polymer matrices.