Photo-triggered enzymatic degradation of biodegradable polymers

A material whose enzymatic degradation is initiated by an external stimulus is of great importance from the viewpoint of practical biodegradable polymers. In this context, we developed a method that controls the initiation of enzymatic degradation by light. 4,4′-Didecyloxy-3-methylazobenzene (Azo), which melts upon exposure to UV radiation, was coated onto biodegradable poly(L-lactide) and the enzymatic degradation of the polymer by proteinase K was successfully initiated and controlled by tuning the solid–liquid transition of the azo-based compound. This stimulus-triggered enzymatic degradation is a significant contribution to the development of lifetime-controlled biodegradable materials.