Synthesis and RGD peptide modification of a new biodegradable copolymer: poly(lactic acid-co-lysine)

Poly(L-lactic acid-co-L-lysine) [OCH(CH 3 )COOCH(CH 3 )CO] m [OCH(CH 3 )CONHCH([CH 2 ] 4 NH 2 )CO] n was synthesized by ring opening copolymerization of L,L-lactide with an urethane-protected 2,5-morpholinedione monomer. The polymer films degraded to half their original M w in 5 weeks when exposed to pH 7.1 in phosphate-buffered saline at 37°C with agitation.