Copolymers of gamma-butyrolactone (gamma-BL) and F-caprolactone (epsilon-CL) were successfully synthesized by ring-opening polymerization using Novozyme-435 (immobilized lipase B from Candida antartica) as catalyst. Copolymers with different compositions were obtained and characterized by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, GPC, DSC and X-ray diffraction. Increasing the [BL]/[CL] feed ratio resulted in decreases of molecular weight (M-n) of copolymers and reaction yield. Moreover, the BL contents in the copolymers varied according to the feed ratio. The T-m of the copolymers decreased from 58 to 49 degrees C with increase in BL content from 0 to 14%. The resulting copolymers were all semicrystalline with a PCL-type crystalline structure. Solution cast films were allowed to degrade in a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution containing Pseudomonas lipase. Weight loss data showed that the degradation rate of copolymers in the presence of Pseudomonas lipase decreased with the increase of BL contents. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.