Characterization of a faster resorbing polymer after real time aging

This study evaluated the in vitro strength retention and polymer characteristics of specimens made from commercially available 85:15 poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide). Test samples included dogbone tensile specimens with a nominal thickness of either 0.75 and 1.0 mm, which were machined from compression-molded sheets, and screws with a major diameter of 2.71 mm and minor diameter of 2.14 mm, which were manufactured by injection molding. All samples were sterilized by e-beam irradiation prior to in vitro aging following a standard methodology. Mechanical testing and polymer analysis were performed at time zero and weekly up to 15 weeks of real time aging. The time zero maximum tensile strength of the 0.75 mm dogbone specimens averaged 55.86 +/- 0.72 MPa. The 1.0-mm dogbone specimens tested at time zero had an average maximum tensile strength of 34.55 +/- 0.36 MPa. The 0.75-mm and 1.0-mm thick dogbone specimens exhibited a controlled decrease in their tensile strength. The initial shear strength of the injection-molded screws was 32.86 +/- 4.15 MPa. After 3 weeks of real time in vitro aging, the screws maintained approximately 70% of their initial (time zero) strength. The inherent viscosity and molecular weight (Mw) at time zero averaged approximately 0.9 dL/g and 98,000 g/mol respectively, and decreased at similar rates for both dogbones and screws. These results demonstrate a controlled, rapid degradation in the mechanical properties of 85:15 poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) material, with sufficient strength for pediatric craniofacial applications.