In vitro degradation of Polyactive (R) 1000PEOT70PBT30 devices

Polyactive (R) 1000PEOT70PBT30 (a segmented block copolymer of poly(ethylen e oxide terephtalate)/poly( butylene terephtalate) with 70/30 PEOT/PBT rati o) was processed into three different types of samples: injection molded to rods, hot-pressed to films and to composite membranes made by hot-pressing a tubular mesh Of poly-L,D-lactide 96/4 between two films of Polyactive (R ). The molecular weight of Polyactive (R) was not influenced by processing, but gamma -sterilization seemed to increase the weight average molecular w eight (M-w). Mechanical properties of the rods and films decreased rapidly in hydrolytic conditions due to the hydrogel nature of the polymer, swellin g and degradation. Mesh reinforcement increased the mechanical properties, but the components separated during soaking. In vitro the molecular weight of the rods and films started to decrease immediately, but the PEOT (or PEO ) proportion remained relatively constant for 26 weeks. Macroscopically, al l the wet devices remained intact, but fragmented on drying. Microscopicall y, topographical formations of polymer were found on the surfaces and small sodium-rich spots were precipitated onto and inside the polymer. Thermal m easurements showed that polymer consisted of amorphous PEOT segments and bo th amorphous and crystalline PBT segments. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.