crystalline , low melting ε - caprolactone polymers which undergo accelerated hydrolysis , and their use as lubricant coatings and / or as coatings containing bioactive agents , as carriers of viable cells , and as coatings for open - cell micoporous template or constucts for tissue regeneration ; the polymers bearing basic functionalities can be linked ionically or covalently to the ester chain which induces autocatalyzed hydrolysis .