INCORPORATION OF SALICYLATES INTO POLY(L-LACTIDE)

Recent studies have indicated that complications like swelling and inf lammation of the surrounding tissue may occur in the late stage of the in vivo degradation of semi-crystalline PLLA bone fixation devices. I ncorporation of an anti-inflammatory drug, like a salicylate, in the p oly(L-lactide) chain might be a route to prevent these complications. In this study, it has been shown that it is possible to copolymerize L -lactide with di- and trisalicylide and to use salicylic acid as an in itiator for the L-lactide polymerization or the L-lactide/epsilon-capr olactone copolymerization. Furthermore, PLLA was blended with poly(sal icylic acid) and Zn(salicylate)2 was synthesized and turned out to be a catalyst for the ring opening polymerization of L-lactide. The binar y poly(L-lactide)/o-acetyl salicylic acid system has an eutectic compo sition for 52 % w/w of poly(L-lactide) in the mixture, Its eutectic me lting temperature is 119-degrees-C.