Research Article
Modelling pH-Optimized Degradation of Microgel-Functionalized Polyesters
Table 1
Parameters used for simulation.
| Symbol | Value | Unit | Description | Source |
| | | mol/L | Equilibrium constant of dissociation reaction of COOH at 37°C | [28] | | | (mol/L)2 | Equilibrium constant of dissociation reaction of H2O at 37°C | [36] | | | 1/week | Rate constant of spontaneous ester bond scission | Fit to experiments | | | | Rate constant for autocatalyzed ester bond scission | Fit to experiments | | | mol/L | Equilibrium constant for buffer reaction at 20°C | Fit to experiments | | | mol/L | Initial buffer concentration | Fit to experiments | | | — | Fraction of volumes occupied by gel and polymer | Derived from experimental procedure | | | — | Fraction of volumes occupied by polymer + gel and polymer | — | | | m2/week | Diffusion constant of oligomer in the polymer | [28] | | | m2/week | Diffusion constant of oligomer in water | [37] | | | mm | Thickness of polymer foil | Derived from experimental procedure | | | mm | Thickness of water column above polymer foil | Derived from experimental procedure |
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