[The mechanism of degradation for the absorbable biomaterials poly(epsilon-caprolactone) in vitro and in vivo].
This study was intended to address the mechanism of the degradation for the bioabsorbable materials poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) in vitro and in vivo by measurement of changes in intrinsic viscosity, number average molecular weight and crystalliniy. The test demonstrated that the degradation in rabbit was quicker than that in vitro. This illustrates that the mechanism of bioerosion in vivo is as important as the nonenzymatic random hydrolytic cleavage of ester linkages. Regardless of the initial Mn of the sample, a linear relationship between ln[eta] and time was observed until the Mn decreased to about 5000. Before this decrease of Mn, the main mechanism of degradation is hydrolytic cleavage of ester groups, with an accompanying enzymatic surface erosion, but after this decrease of Mn, the bioerosion with weight loss plays a role more significant than that the hydrolytic reaction plays in the degradation. The morphological characteristics of PCL materials after and before erosion were also compared by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Chen
J
J
Dept. of Chemistry, First Medical University of PLA, Guangzhou 510515.
Ma
A
A
Lai
Y
Y
Chen
Y
Y
Cui
M
M
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D011091:Polyesters; D011817:Rabbits; D014783:Viscosity
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone