Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Autosterilization of biodegradable implants by injection molding process

C König1, K Ruffieux, E Wintermantel

  • 1Department of Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
|July 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Injection molding cannot reliably sterilize heavily contaminated polylactic acid implants. However, this process significantly reduces bacterial spores, potentially offering autosterilization for lightly contaminated materials.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comorbidities Associated with Worse Outcomes Among Inpatients Admitted for Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Digestive diseases and sciences·2021
Same author

[Pharmacological/pharmaceutical counseling in intensive care medicine].

Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin·2021
Same author

Home-based color card screening for biliary atresia: the first steps for implementation of a nationwide newborn screening in Germany.

Pediatric surgery international·2019
Same author

[Adequate anti-infective treatment : Importance of individual dosing and application].

Der Anaesthesist·2018
Same author

The importance of laboratory re-evaluation in cases of suspected child abuse - A case report.

Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2017
Same author

Tedizolid susceptibility in linezolid- and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2016

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Polymer Engineering
  • Sterilization Technologies

Background:

  • Standard sterilization methods can degrade labile polymers used in degradable implants.
  • Developing alternative sterilization techniques for biodegradable medical devices is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the injection molding process itself can sterilize poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) implants.
  • To assess the efficacy of injection molding in eliminating thermoresistant bacterial spores from polymer implants.

Main Methods:

  • Polymer granules (PDLLA and PLLA) were intentionally contaminated with Bacillus stearothermophilus spores.
  • Both sterile and contaminated granules were processed using injection molding at elevated temperatures (120°C for PDLLA, 200°C for PLLA).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Molded parts were subsequently tested for microbial contamination to evaluate sterility.

    • Main Results:

    • All samples produced from sterile PDLLA and PLLA remained sterile post-injection molding.
    • In heavily contaminated samples, injection molding did not achieve complete sterilization, with some spores surviving.
    • A significant reduction of over 99.99% in viable bacterial spores was observed in contaminated samples.

    Conclusions:

    • The injection molding process is not a reliable standalone sterilization method for heavily contaminated polylactic acid implants.
    • Injection molding demonstrates potential for autosterilization of implants manufactured from raw materials with low levels of contamination.
    • The high temperature, pressure, and shear forces during injection molding significantly reduce microbial load.