Controlled degradation of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PECA-co-PMMA) copolymers

Copolymers of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PECA-co-PMMA) with various compositions were synthesized by free radical bulk polymerization in an effort to control degradation and stability as well as glass transition temperature to overcome intrinsic poor processability of the poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) (PECA) homopolymer. The copolymers were found to have an alternating random tendency, which was responsible for the efficient inhibition of the unzipping degradation from the polymer chain. Consequently, the stability of the copolymers at elevated temperature and in solution was significantly improved compared to the PECA homopolymer. The glass transition temperatures of the copolymers were lowered by the incorporation of the methyl methacrylate (MMA), thereby further widening the operating temperature range of the polymer. On the other hand, the copolymer films exhibited hydrolytic degradation in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution at 37 °C, which is promising for their use as novel biomaterials.