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Injection moulding of biodegradable implants.

R von Oepen¹, W Michaeli

¹Institut für Kunststoffverarbeitung, Aachen, Germany.

Clinical Materials

|December 10, 1991

Summary

Degradable polymers offer a promising alternative for medical implants, but processing challenges can reduce their molecular weight and mechanical strength. This study investigates how processing conditions impact these properties in stabilizer-free degradable polymers.

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Area of Science:

Biomaterials science
Polymer engineering
Medical device manufacturing

Background:

Degradable polymers are increasingly used in medical engineering for implants like drug delivery systems and bone fixation devices.
Their biocompatibility and ability to degrade in the body eliminate the need for secondary surgeries.
A significant challenge lies in processing these polymers without stabilizers, which can compromise their molecular integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of processing parameters on molecular weight reduction in degradable polymers.
To correlate changes in molecular weight with alterations in mechanical properties.
To identify optimal processing conditions for stabilizer-free degradable polymers used in medical applications.

Main Methods:

Experiments were conducted using an injection moulding machine to simulate processing conditions.
A conical plate rheometer was employed to analyze polymer behavior under varying shear rates and temperatures.
Key processing variables studied included temperature, shear, residence time, and moisture content.

Main Results:

Processing conditions significantly influenced molecular weight reduction in degradable polymers.
A direct correlation was observed between decreased molecular weight and diminished mechanical properties.
Temperature, shear, residence time, and moisture were identified as critical factors affecting polymer degradation during processing.

Conclusions:

Processing conditions must be carefully controlled to maintain the molecular weight and mechanical integrity of degradable polymers for medical implants.
Understanding the interplay between processing parameters and polymer degradation is crucial for developing reliable and effective medical devices.
Further research into optimized processing techniques can enhance the performance and safety of degradable polymer-based medical implants.

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