Amino acid modified PHBHHx though N-carboxyanhydride ring-opening polymerization

Abstract Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) was grafted with N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) to synthesize amino acid modified co-polymer. FT-IR and elemental analysis confirmed that amino acids were successfully grafted into PHBHHx with various NCA monomer. The hydrophilicity of modified PHBHHx was significantly enhanced by the amino acid segment incorperation, and the controlled trials revealed that the physical added amino acids in SBF solution almost display nearly no influence on PHBHHx degradation while the chemically grafted amino acids in co-polymers significantly promote PHBHHx degradation.