Polymers with controlled physical state and bioerodibility

摘要

Polymers useful as orthopedic implants or vehicles for the sustained delivery of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and agricultural agents are prepared in such a manner that the rate and degree to which they are hydrolyzed can be controlled without addition of exogenous acid. This control results from the incorporation of esters of short-chain alpha -hydroxy acids such as esters of glycolic acid, lactic acid or glycolic-co-lactic acid copolymer into the polymer chain and variation of the amount of these esters relative to the polymer as a whole.