title: Effects of material thickness and processing method on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) degradation and mechanical performance.
abstract: In this study, the effects of material thickness and processing method on the degradation rate and the changes in the mechanical properties of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) material during simulated physiological degradation were investigated. Two types of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) materials were considered: 0.12 mm solvent-cast films and 1 mm compression-moulded plates. The experimental results presented in this study were compared to the experimental results of Shirazi et al. (Acta Biomaterialia 10(11):4695-703, 2014) for 0.25 mm solvent-cast films. These experimental observations were used to validate the computational modelling predictions of Shirazi et al. (J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 54: 48-59, 2016) on critical diffusion length scale and also to refine the model parameters. The specific material processing methods considered here did not have a significant effect on the degradation rate and the changes in mechanical properties during degradation; however, they influenced the initial molecular weight and they determined the stiffness and hardness of the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) material. The experimental observations strongly supported the computational modelling predictions that showed no significant difference in the degradation rate and the changes in the elastic modulus of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) films for thicknesses larger than 100 μm.
authors: Biomechanics Research Centre (BMEC), Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. reyhaneh.shirazi@nuigalway.ie.
authors: Reyhaneh Neghabat
authors: RN
authors: Shirazi
authors: School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Fawaz
authors: F
authors: Aldabbagh
authors: Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Ronan
authors: School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Erxleben
authors: School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.|National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Yury
authors: Y
authors: Rochev
authors: Biomechanics Research Centre (BMEC), Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: McHugh
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization; D004058:Diffusion; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006244:Hardness; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008970:Molecular Weight; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012997:Solvents; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid