Biodegradation of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) and Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-Co-3-Hydroxy-4-Methylvalerate) Films by Porcine Pancreatic Lipase

Abstract

In the current work, the degradation of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxy-4-methylvalerate) (PHB4MV) films was studied in vitro by pancreatic lipase. The changes in film properties were traced by several analytical methods: the change of weight, molecular weight, and Young’s modulus (by nanoindentation) were measured. During the six months of polymer films degradation the weight of samples decreased slightly, while a great increase in Young's modulus due to the relatively fast degradation of the amorphous areas was observed, as well as molecular weight of polymers decreased significantly. Weight loss of PHB4MV is faster than degradation rate of PHB, but the molecular weight of PHB 1700 decrease rapidly than PHB4MV; the Young’s modulus of polymers remained relatively unchanged.