Synthetic biodegradable polymer

For environmentally
biodegradable plastic.

degradable

polymers,

see Mechanical performance of a biodegradable polymer depends on various factors which include monomer selection, initiator selection, process conditions and the presence
of additives. These factors inuence the polymers
Many opportunities exist for the application of synthetic
crystallinity, melt and glass transition temperatures and
biodegradable polymers in the biomedical area particularly in the elds of tissue engineering and controlled molecular weight. Each of these factors needs to be
on how they aect the biodegradation of the
drug delivery. Degradation is important in biomedicine assessed [5]
Biodegradation can be accomplished by synpolymer.
for many reasons. Degradation of the polymeric imthesizing
polymers
with hydrolytically unstable linkages
plant means surgical intervention may not be required
in
the
backbone.
This
is commonly achieved by the use
in order to remove the implant at the end of its func[1] of chemical functional groups such as esters, anhydrides,
tional life, eliminating the need for a second surgery.
In tissue engineering, biodegradable polymers can be de- orthoesters and amides. Most biodegradable polymers
signed such to approximate tissues, providing a polymer are synthesized by ring opening polymerization.
scaold that can withstand mechanical stresses, provide
a suitable surface for cell attachment and growth, and degrade at a rate that allows the load to be transferred to 2 Processing
the new tissue.[2][3] In the eld of controlled drug delivery, biodegradable polymers oer tremendous potential
either as a drug delivery system alone or in conjunction Biodegradable polymers can be melt processed by conventional means such as compression or injection moldto functioning as a medical device.[4]
ing. Special consideration must be given to the need to
In the development of applications of biodegradable poly- exclude moisture from the material. Care must be taken
mers, the chemistry of some polymers including synthesis to dry the polymers before processing to exclude humidand degradation is reviewed below. A description of how ity. As most biodegradable polymers have been syntheproperties can be controlled by proper synthetic controls sized by ring opening polymerization, a thermodynamic
such as copolymer composition, special requirements for equilibrium exists between the forward polymerization
processing and handling, and some of the commercial de- reaction and the reverse reaction that results in monomer
vices based on these materials are discussed.
formation. Care needs to be taken to avoid an excessively
high processing temperature that may result in monomer
formation during the molding and extrusion process.

Polymer chemistry and material

selection

3 Degradation

When investigating the selection of the polymer for

biomedical applications, important criteria to consider Once implanted, a biodegradable device should maintain
are;
its mechanical properties until it is no longer needed and
then be absorbed by the body leaving no trace. The back The mechanical properties must match the appli- bone of the polymer is hydrolytically unstable. That is,
cation and remain suciently strong until the sur- the polymer is unstable in a water based environment.
This is the prevailing mechanism for the polymers degrarounding tissue has healed.
dation. This occurs in two stages.
The degradation time must match the time required. 1. Water penetrates the bulk of the device, attacking the
chemical bonds in the amorphous phase and converting
long polymer chains into shorter water-soluble fragments.
It is metabolized in the body after fullling its pur- This causes a reduction in molecular weight without the
loss of physical properties as the polymer is still held topose.
gether by the crystalline regions. Water penetrates the de It is easily processable in the nal product form with vice leading to metabolization of the fragments and bulk
an acceptable shelf life and easily sterilized.
erosion.
It does not invoke a toxic response.

2. Surface erosion of the polymer occurs when the rate

at which the water penetrating the device is slower than
the rate of conversion of the polymer into water soluble
materials.
Biomedical engineers can tailor a polymer to slowly degrade and transfer stress at the appropriate rate to surrounding tissues as they heal by balancing the chemical
stability of the polymer backbone, the geometry of the
device, and the presence of catalysts, additives or plasticisers.

Applications

Biodegradable polymers are used commercially in both

the tissue engineering and drug delivery eld of
biomedicine. Specic applications include.
Sutures
Dental devices (PLGA)
Orthopedic xation devices
Tissue engineering scaolds
Biodegradable vascular stents
Biodegradable soft tissue anchors

References

[1] Gilding, D.K.; Reed, A.M. (1979). Biodegradable polymers for use in surgerypolyglycolic/poly(actic acid)
homo- and copolymers: 1. Polymer 20 (12): 1459.
doi:10.1016/0032-3861(79)90009-0.
[2] Pietrzak, WS; Verstynen, ML; Sarver, DR (1997).
Bioabsorbable xation devices: Status for the craniomaxillofacial surgeon. The Journal of craniofacial
surgery 8 (2): 926. doi:10.1097/00001665-19970300000005. PMID 10332273.
[3] Pietrzak, WS; Sarver, DR; Verstynen, ML (1997).
Bioabsorbable polymer science for the practicing surgeon. The Journal of craniofacial surgery 8 (2): 87
91. doi:10.1097/00001665-199703000-00004. PMID
10332272.
[4] Middleton, John C. and Tipton, Arthur J. (March 1998)
Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers as Medical Devices,
Medical Plastics and Biomaterials Magazine, Retrieved
(2009-11-09)
[5] Kohn J, and Langer R, Bioresorbable and Bioerodible
Materials, in Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to
Materials in Medicine, Ratner BD (ed.), New York, Academic Press, 2004 ISBN 0125824637, pp. 115

EXTERNAL LINKS

6 Further reading
Some biodegradable polymers, their properties and
degradation times can be found in Table 2 in this
document.
An example of the structure of some of the types of
polymer degradation can be viewed in Fig. 1 in this
article
Bellin, I., Kelch, S., Langer, R. & Lendlein, A.
Polymeric triple-shape materials. Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. U.S.A. 103, 18043-18047 (2006. Copyright
(2006) National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A.
Lendlein, A., Jiang, H., Jnger, O. & Langer, R.
Light-induced shape-memory polymers. Nature
434, 879882 (2005).
Lendlein, A., Langer, R.: Biodegradable, Elastic
Shape Memory Polymers for Potential Biomedical
Applications, Science 296, 16731675 (2002).
Lendlein, A., Schmidt, A.M. & Langer, R. ABpolymer networks based on oligo (e-caprolactone)
segments showing shape-memory properties and
this article. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
98(3), 842847 (2001). Copyright (2001) National
Academy of Sciences, U.S.A.

7 External links
mNEMOSCIENCE
Biodegradable plastics a year in review, Environment and Plastics Industry Council

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