Absorbable Polymer Properties

Localized drug delivery continues to gain traction over systemic drugs as it allows for higher potency and reduced side effects. For example, cancer treatment efficacy depends on the dose of the drug that reaches the tumor, and polymer wafers, nanofibrous scaffolds, and hydrogels have been used for localized drug delivery (Woodring et al., ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2023).

Bioabsorbable polymers are designed to be there when you need them and gone when you don’t need them anymore. But striking the right balance between adequate mechanical strength during the medical device’s useful life and suitable degradation rate can be challenging.

If the polymer degrades too fast, the device will lack the required mechanical integrity…