Degradation of side chains of N-(2 hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide copolymers by lysosomal enzymes

Abstract

Summary A series of twenty two N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide copolymers, each containing a different, potentially degradable side chain, were incubated with rat liver Tritosomes. Four of the side chains were digestible as judged by the liberation of a terminal 4-nitroaniline residue. The pH optimum for the degradation of the side chain -e-aminocaproyl-phenylalanyl-4-nitroanilide was in the range 5.75–6.5 over the first hour of incubation and somewhat lower (pH 5.5–6.0) after this time. The degradation of the above side chain had a Km value of 58.3 mg/ml.