Synthesis of Biodegradable Grafted Copolymers of Gelatin and Polymethyl Methacrylate

Grafted copolymers of gelatin and polymethyl methacrylate are synthesized using the tributylboron–oxygen initiating system in an aqueous dispersion at 60°C. The products are characterized by IR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. The proportion of polymethyl methacrylate in the copolymer is 2–60% and increases with a higher concentration of alkylborane in the initial mixture. The particle size of the aqueous dispersions of the copolymers determined by dynamic light scattering exceeds the particle size of gelatin. The thermogravimetric curves of the copolymers are similar to those of gelatin, with thermal stability tending to increase with a higher concentration of tributylboron. All the copolymers are biodegradable by fungi.