Reactive copolymers of N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide with N‐methacryloylated derivatives of l‐leucine and l‐phenylalanine. II. Reaction with the polymeric amine and stability of cross‐links towards chymotrypsin in vitro

Abstract Polymeric amine (Ia) was prepared by reacting a copolymer of N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) and N‐methacryloyl ρ‐aminocaproyl L‐leucine p‐nitrophenyl ester with 1,6‐diaminohexane in excess. The rate of reaction of (Ia) with reactive copolymers of HPMA and p‐nitrophenyl esters of methacryloylated amino acids was investigated. The results indicate that interpenetration of polymeric coils occurs in dimethylsulfoxide solution! . A study of the stability of cross‐links towards chymotrypsin in vitro showed that in addition to steric factors, subsite interactions between substrate and chymotrypsin must also be borne in mind. An aimed synthesis of crosslinks allowing such interactions leads to an increase in the enzymatic degradability of the polymers studied.