Enzymatic hydrolysis of random copolypeptides consisting of N-hydroxypropyl-L-asparagine and L-alanine

Two component water soluble random copolypeptides consisting of N-hydroxypropyl-L-asparagine and L-alanine a ere prepared by carrying out aminolysis reactions with 3-amino-1-propanol (P) on starting copolymers consisting of beta-benzyl-L-aspartate (beta-BLA) and L-alanine. The effects of copolymer composition and sequential distributions on the rate of degradation by papain were investigated in a PECF at pH 7.4 and 37.0 degrees C to simulate in vivo polymer degradation. All the samples were found to be degraded by random chain fracture with papain. Further, the degradation data for these samples followed the Michaelis-Menten rate law, being of the first order in papain concentration. The nature of the side chains are important to the rate of degradation by papain iii vitro and it was controlled by the comonomer composition as well as the sequential distribution of comonomers in the copolymer chains. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.