Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer that is used to fabricate medical devices that dissolve in the body once they have performed their function. Resorbable polymers are popular in such applications as dissolvable and drug-eluting stents and implantable fixation devices. In all of these applications, the rate of resorption is a key property. Researchers at Brown University (Providence, RI) have discovered that the degradation rate of PLA can be decreased by treating it at various temperatures and pressures. By tuning the material’s rate of resorption, the researchers envisage broadening the scope of potential medical applications.
PLA is a semi-crystalline material with a molecular structure that is partly ordered into crystals while the rest is disordered, or amorphous, like glass. Work by previous researchers had shown that treating PLA with heat could increase the material’s crystalline makeup, which could help to increase its strength. Researchers led by Brown University doctoral candidate Christopher Baker wanted to see if adding pressure to the treatment process would further influence the material’s structure, explains a press release published on the university website.
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