Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Biodegradable Polyamides Containing -amino Acid

The polyamides were obtained from 1,6-hexanediamine and diacylchloride which incorporated -amino acid residues through interfacial polycondensation. High molecular weight (inh = 1.05-1.18 dL/g) polymers were produced with high yields. The structure of polyamides was verified by FT-IR and 1H NMR spectra. They showed a remarkable ability to develop high crystallinity with melting temperatures in the range 117-191C and was stable up to 350C under nitrogen. Two methods such as alkali hydrolysis (10% NaOH w/v, 80C) and enzymatic hydrolysis were employed for assessing the susceptibility of these polyamides to degradation. A preliminary investigation of the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) release characteristics of these polyamides showed that the release rate increased with increasing water absorption of the polymers.