A study on the in vitro degradation of poly(lactic acid)

C. Migliaresi, L. Fambri1, D. Cohn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

The in vitro degradation of samples of L- and D, L-lactic acid polymers, P(L)LA and P(DL) LA respectively, having different molecular weights, morphology and/or geometry, has been studied through the determination of viscometric molecular weight, mass and mechanical properties as function of the immersion time in Ringer solution at 37°C. In particular have been compared the degradation kinetics of P(L) LA, amorphous and crystalline, and of P(L)LA and P(DL)LA having different molecular weight and sample geometry. From the molecular weight versus the degradation time data, a degradation rate has been defined, as the derivative of the function best fitting the data, normalized to the molecular weight of the polymer at each time. The behavior of the degradation rate curves, plotted against the degradation time, has been interpretated and compared with relation to the initial physical and geometrical characteristics of the PLA samples.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)591-606
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition
Volume5
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994

Keywords

  • crystallinity
  • degradation
  • morphology
  • Poly(lactic acid)

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