An in vivo study of the biodegradation of the hydrophilic Mitrathane

The present study analyzes the kinetics of the in vivo degradation of hydrophilic Mitrathane in the peritoneal cavity of mice over a period ranging from 1 to 180 days. The mechanical milling of the polyurethane films produced regularly flattened fragments that in vivo spontaneously oriented into piles. The morphological observations and analysis with the aid of an image analysis system demonstrated that after seven days of swelling the polymer fragments undergo a continuous degradation that leads to an irregular thinning and phagocytosis of the smaller fragments by macrophages with very little chronic inflammation response from surrounding tissues.