POLYGLYCOLIDE WITH CONTROLLED POROSITY - AN IMPROVED BIOMATERIAL

A method to prepare polyglycolide, the simplest polyester, with define d microstructure by solid-state polymerization of halogenoacetates is presented. By choosing the appropriate halogenoacetate it is possible to obtain polyglycolide with variable porosity. The pore size distribu tion can be varied by choice of the precursor and an appropriate mecha nical pretreatment (average pore diameters between 0.3 and 1.5 mu m). Porous polyglycolide should degrade faster in the environment or in th e body than compact polyglycolide. Alternatively, microcrystals of the elmininated salts can be obtained by extracting the polyglycolide. Th ermodynamic data for halogenoacetates are given.