The in-depth structural and compositional investigation of biodegradable polymeric materials, neat or partly degraded, is crucial for their successful applications. Obviously, an exhaustive structural analysis of all synthetic macromolecules is essential in polymer chemistry to confirm the accomplishment of a preparation procedure, identify degradation products originating from side reactions, and monitor chemical-physical properties. Advanced mass spectrometry (MS) techniques have been increasingly applied in biodegradable polymer studies with a relevant role in their further development, valuation, and extension of application fields. However, single-stage MS is not always sufficient to identify unambiguously the polymer structure. Thus, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has more recently been employed for detailed structure characterization and in degradation and drug release monitoring of polymeric samples, among which are biodegradable polymers. This review aims to run through the investigations carried out by the soft ionization technique matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) MS/MS in biodegradable polymers and present the resulting information.
Keywords: ESI; MALDI; biodegradable polymers; characterization; degradation; drug delivery systems; multi stage mass spectrometry; tandem mass spectrometry.