Biodegradable polymer with controlled biodegradability

Abstract

Disclosed is a biodegradable polymer comprising an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 5 or more carbon atoms at at least one terminal of the polymer chain, wherein the biodegradable polymer has a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 35,000 when the biodegradable polymer has a 2-pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer as its main chain and stearic acid at the terminal of the polymer chain; a molded article comprising the biodegradable polymer; and a method for controlling biodegradability of a biodegradable polymer, comprising introducing an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group into the terminal of the polymer chain of the biodegradable polymer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.