title: Potentially useful materials for biodegradable ureteric stents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and test materials that may be useful in the design and further development of biodegradable ureteric stents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of two plastics were placed in artificial urine of different pH for 30 days to examine the degree of dissolution of the plastic in alkaline and the stability in acidic conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The specimens remained stable in the artificial urine at pH < 7.0 for 30 days and dissolved completely at a pH > or = 7 within 48 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plastics can be designed which may be useful in the further development of biodegradable ureteric stents. The rate of dissolution could be changed by influencing urinary pH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Paediatric Urology, Fulda Medical School, University of Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Schlick
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Planz
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010969:Plastics; D015607:Stents; D014513:Ureter; D014546:Urinary Catheterization; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics