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More about the degradation of LA/GA-derived matrices in aqueous media

1991; Elsevier BV; Volume: 16; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0168-3659(91)90027-b

1873-4995

Michel Vert, Suming Li, Henri Garreau,

Bone Tissue Engineering Materials

Aliphatic polyesters are the source of the most attractive polymeric matrices currently investigated to make devices aimed at controlled drug delivery. In spite of the large number of investigations dealing with LA/GA-polymers which have been reported in the literature, only little is known about the degradation mechanism of these polyesters in solid state. Recent data collected from in vitro ageing under experimental conditions mimicking the physiological medium show that initial morphology and morphology changes are very important factors determining the degradation behaviors of LA/GA-polymer matrices. In particular, it is shown that intrinsically amorphous members of the family and quenched semi-crystalline ones can crystallize while degrading. The possible effects of drug loads on such phenomena are discussed.