10.3390/10010081
The research investigates the use of hydrolytic enzymes, specifically a lipase from Candida cylindracea and a cutinase from Fusarium solani pisii, in the selective cleavage of ester groups on the peripheral layer of linear and branched polyamides conjugated to fragrances citronellol and L-menthol via ester linkages. The study explores the potential of these enzymes for post-synthetic modification of dendrimers and hyperbranched molecules. The polyamides were synthesized in a convergent fashion, and the hydrolysis studies were conducted in aqueous buffered systems under optimal conditions for the enzymes. Analytical techniques such as RP-HPLC, GC, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were employed to monitor the alcohol release and identify hydrolytic products. The results revealed that the enzyme's ability to interact with the substrates decreased significantly with increased branching density, rigidity, and bulkiness of the polyamide-fragrance conjugates. The lipase showed limited efficacy, with notable ester cleavage only observed in one case, while the cutinase demonstrated more favorable interactions, particularly with linear polyamides.