title: Degradation behaviour of block copolymers containing poly(lactic-glycolic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) segments.
abstract: The degradation behaviour of a new class of multi-block copolymers containing poly(D,L-lactic-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments was studied under conditions mimicking those found in biological fluids. The dissolution times of the new PLGA-PEG multi-block copolymers mainly depend on the length of the PEG segments present in their structure, i.e., on their PEG content on a weight/weight basis. At higher PEG contents, partially degraded PLGA segments are brought in solution by attached PEG segments. In all cases, the dissolution rates decrease by increasing the total surface area of the specimens tested.
authors.affiliation: Europeptides (GEIE), Argenteuil, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcioni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferruti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D' Antone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deghenghi
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001826:Body Fluids; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers; D013997:Time Factors; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; C102418:poly(lactic-glycolic acid)-poly(ethyleneglycol) copolymer; D014867:Water; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols