biodegradable polymer

Polymer susceptible to degradation by biological activity, with the degradation accompanied by a lowering of its molar mass.
Notes:
  1. See also Note 2 to polymer degradation.
  2. In the case of a polymer, its biodegradation proceeds not only by catalytic activity of enzymes, but also by a wide variety of biological activities.
Source:
PAC, 2004, 76, 889 (Definitions of terms relating to reactions of polymers and to functional polymeric materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2003)) on page 898