Abstract
The field of biodegradable polymers is a fast growing area of polymer science because of the interest of such compounds for temporary surgical and pharmacological applications. Aliphatic polyesters constitute the most attractive family among which poly(α-hydroxy acids) have been extensively studied. In the past two decades, several excellent reviews have been published to present the general properties of aliphatic polyesters. The aim of this paper is to complete the information collected so far with a special attention to the complex phenomena of biodegradability and biocompatibility. Indeed, the degradation of a polymer leads to the delivery of low molecular weight degradation by-products whose effects on the host body have to be considered. The consequences of the absence of standard terminology are first discussed with respect to words such as biodegradable and bioresorbable. Poly(α-hydroxy acids) derived from lactic and glycolic acids are then introduced in order to make easier the critical discussions of the following problems from literature data: biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioresorbability, mechanism of hydrolysis (enzymaticvs simple chemistry), polymodality of molecular weight distributions during degradation and the effects of the presence of oligomers. Finally, some specific comments are made on other aliphatic polyesters such as poly(hydroxy butyrate) and poly(β-malic acid).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. HASSIG and K. STAMPFLI,Bibliotheca. Haemat. 33 (1969) 1–8.
D. V. ROSATO, in “Biomedical polymers, metals and composites”, edited by M. Szycher (Technomic Publ. Co. Inc., Lancaster, 1983) pp. 1019–1067.
E. E. SCHMITT and R. A. POLISTINA, “Surgical sutures”, US Patent 3 297 033, January (1967).
E. J. FRAZZA and E. E. SCHMITT,J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Symp. 1 (1971) 43–58.
R. L. KRONENTHAL, in “Polymers in medicine and surgery”, edited by R. L. Kronenthal, Z. Oser and E. Martin (Plenum Press, New York, 1974).
G. S. KUMAR, V. KALPAGAM and U. S. NANDI,J. Macromolec. Sci. Rev. Macromolec. Chem. Phys. C22 (1982) 225–260.
G. E. ZAIROV, ibid.C25 (1985) 551–597.
J. KOPECEK and K. ULRICH,Prog. Polym. Sci. 9 (1983) 1–58.
D. A. WOOD,Int. J. Pharm. 7 (1980) 1–18.
R. K. KULKARNI, K. C. PANI, C. NEUMAN and F. LEONARD,Arch. Surg. 93 (1966) 839–843.
C. G. PITT, F. I. CHASLOW, Y. M. HIBIONADA, D. M. KLIMAS and A. SCHINDLER,J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 26 (1981) 3779–3787.
W. VON KORSATKO, B. WAGNEGG, H. M. TILLIAN, G. BRAUNEGG and R. M. LAFFERTY, “Poly(D(-)-3-hydroxy buttersaüre)-ein biologisch abbaubarer Arzneistoffträger zur Liberations-verzögerung. 2. Mih.: Über die biologische Abbaubarkert im tierischen Organismus und diein vitro-in-vivo-Korrelation der Arzneristoffliberation aus parenteral applizierbaren Matrix-Retard Tabletten”,Pharm. Ind. 45 (1977) 1004–1007.
M. VERT and R. W. LENZ,ACS Polym. Prepr. 20 (1979) 608–611.
N. DODDI, C. C. VERSFELT and D. WASSERMAN, “Synthetic absorbable surgical devices of polydioxanone”, US Patent 4 052 988, October (1976).
J. A. RAY, N. DODDI, D. REGULA, I. A. WILLIAMS and A. MELVEGER,Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 153 (1981) 497–507.
S. I. HOLLAND, B. J. TIGHE and P. L. GOULD,J. Control Rel. 4 (1986) 155–180.
M. VERT, P. CHRISTEL, F. CHABOT and J. LERAY, in “Macromolecular biomaterials”, edited by G. W. Hastings and P. Ducheyne (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1984) Chap. 6.
M. VERT,Macromolec. Chem. Macromolec. Symp. 6 (1986) 109–122.
Idem., Macromolec. Chem. Suppl. 5 (1981) 30–41.
M. VERT, P. GRANGER, G. SPENLEHAUER and J. P. BENOIT, in press.
F. CHABOT, M. VERT, S. CHAPELLE and P. GRANGER,Polymer 24 (1983) 53–59.
“Definitions in biomaterials”, edited by D. F. Williams (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1987) p. 67.
R. K. KULKARNI, S. G. MOORE, A. F. HIGYELI and F. LEONARD,J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 5 (1971) 169–182.
J. M. BRADY, D. E. CUTRIGHT, R. A. MILLER and G. C. BATTISTONE, ibid.7 (1975) 155–166.
L. L. HENCH and E. C. ETHRIDGE, “Tissue reactions, polymers in biomaterials and interfacial approach”, edited by L. L. Hench and E. C. Ethridge, “Biophysics bioengineering series, Vol. 4” (Academic Press, New York, 1982) Chap. 7.3.
R. A. MILLER, J. M. BRADY and D. E. CUTRIGHT,J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 11 (1977) 711–719.
K. L. GERLACH and J. EITENMÜLLER, in “Biomaterials and clinical applications”, edited by A. Pizzoferrato, P. G. Marchetti, A. Ravaglioli and A. J. C. Lee (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1987) pp. 299–304.
D. E. CUTRIGHT, E. E. HUNSUCK and J. P. BEASLEY,Oral Surg. 29 (1971) 393–402.
L. GETTER, D. E. CUTRIGHT, S. N. BHASKAR and J. K. AUGSBURG,J. Oral Surg. 30 (1972) 344–348.
H. A. STEIN,Canad. J. Ophthalm. 9 (1974) 432–434.
J. CHABAL,Lyon Chir. Fr. 70 (1974) 354–355.
W. M. COCKE,South. Med. J. 65 (1972) 629–639.
H. DARDICK, I. DARDICK and H. HAUFMAN,Amer. J. Surg. 121 (1971) 656–660.
A. R. ANSCOMBE, N. HIRA and B. HUNT,Brit. J. Surg. 57 (1970) 917–920.
J. BENDER and J. BROUWER,Arch. Chir. Neerl. 27 (1975) 54–61.
G. MICALI, A. RUSSO and G. SANFILIPPU,Min. Chir. 30 (1975) 186–190.
Ö. NELSON and L. OKMIAN,Z. Kinderchir. 18 (1976) 253–265.
J. C. HASTINGS,Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 140 (1975) 701–707.
R. F. LARSEN,N.Z. Vet. J. 26 (1978) 258–259.
F. O. BERGMAN, S. J. H. BORGSTRÖM and D. E. W. HORMLUND,Arch. Chir. Scand. 137 (1971) 193–200.
H. DARDICK, I. DARDICK, A. R. KATZ, R. B. SMITH, B. H. SCHWIBNER and H. LAUFMAN,Surgery 68 (1970) 1112–1121.
K. S. DEVI and P. VASUDEVAN,JMS Rev. Macromolec. Chem. Phys. C25 (1985) 315–324, and references therein.
D. E. CUTRIGHT, J. D. BEASLEY and B. PEREZ,Oral Surg. 32 (1971) 165–173.
E. M. HELVESTON and S. F. MEYERS,Opt. Surg. 5 (1974) 63–68.
P. K. MAURER and J. V. McDONALD,J. Neurosurg. 63 (1985) 448–452.
P. H. CRAIG, J. A. WILLIAMS, K. W. DAVIS, A. D. MAGOUN, A. J. LEVEY, S. BOGANSKY and J. P. JONES,Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 141 (1975) 1–9.
E. E. SCHMITT and R. A. POLISTINA, “Polyglycolic acid prosthetic devices”, US Patent 3 739 773, June (1973).
J. L. LERAY, F. CHABOT, F. X. De CHARENTENAY, P. CHRISTEL, L. SEDEL and M. VERT, in Transactions 3rd Annual Meeting, American Society Biomaterials, New Orleans, 1977.
J. F. NELSON, H. G. STANFORD and D. E. CUTRIGHT,Oral Surg. 43 (1977) 836–843.
L. SEDEL, F. CHABOT, P. CHRISTEL, F. X. De CHARENTENEY, J. LERAY and M. VERT,Rev. Chir. Orthop. 64 Suppl. 2 (1978) 92–96.
J. O. HOLLIGER,J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 17 (1983) 71–82.
M. VERT, F. CHABOT, J. LERAY and P. CHRISTEL, “Nouvelles pièces d'ostéosynthèse, leur préparation et leur application”, French Patent 78-29978, October (1978).
P. CHRISTEL, F. CHABOT, J. L. LERAY, C. MORIN and M. VERT, in “Biomaterials”, edited by G. D. Winter, D. F. Gibbons and H. Plenck Jr (J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 1982) pp. 271–280.
J. P. DAUBE, “Première application en chirurgie maxillofaciale des matériaux biodégradables poly(α-hydroxy acides)”, MD thesis, Nice (1986).
M. CHANAVAZ, F. CHABOT, M. DONAZZAN and M. VERT, in “Biological and biomechanical performance of biomaterials”, edited by P. Christel, A. Meunier and A. J. C. Lee (Elsevier Sci. Amsterdam, 1986) pp. 233–238.
M. VERT, P. CHRISTEL, H. GARREAU, M. AUDION, M. CHANAVAZ and F. CHABOT, in “Polymers in medicine II”, edited by E. Chiellini, P. Giusti, C. Migliaresi and L. Nicolais (Plenum Press, 1986) pp. 263–275.
P. CHRISTEL, M. VERT, F. CHABOT, H. GARREAU and M. AUDION, in Proceedings of Plastic and Rubber Institute, PIMS IV (London, 1975) pp. 11–15.
A. S. CHAWLA and T. M. S. CHANG,Biomat. Med. Dev. Artif. Org. 13 (1985–86) 153–162.
M. VERT, in “CRC critical reviews in therapeutic drug carrier systems”, Vol. 2, edited by S. D. Bruck (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1986) 291–327.
G. SPENLEHAUER, M. VERT, J. P. BENOIT, F. CHABOT and M. VEILLARD,J. Control. Rel. 7 (1988) 217.
R. J. RUDERMAN, A. F. HEGYELI, B. G. HATTLER and F. LEONARD,Trans. Amer. Soc. Artif. Intern. Organs 228 (1972) 30–39.
H. F. SASKEN, L. A. TRUDELL, P. M. GALETTI, P. D. RICHARDSON, T. H. CHU and E. NYILAS,Trans. 9th Ann. Meeting Amer. Soc. Biomater. 82 (1983).
D. F. WILLIAMS and E. MORT,J. Bioengng 1 (1977) 231–238.
D. F. WILLIAMS,Engng Med. 10 (1981) 5–7.
D. K. GILDING,Biocompat. Clin. Impl. Mater. 2 (1981) 209–232.
C. G. PITT, R. W. HENDREW, A. SCHINDLER and S. C. WOODWARD,J. Control Rel. 1 (1984) 3–14.
R. SMITH, C. OLIVER and D. F. WILLIAMS,J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 21 (1987) 991–1003.
A. SCHINDLER and C. G. PITT,Polym. Prepr. Amer. Chem. Soc. Polym. Chem. Dir. 23 (1983) 111–112.
T. M. SALTHOUSE and B. F. MATLAGA,Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 142 (1976) 544–550.
L. R. BECK and T. R. TICE, in “Advances in human fertility and reproductive endocrynology”, Vol. 2, edited by D. R. Mishell (Raven Press, New York, 1983) pp. 175–199.
K. MAKINO, H. OHSHIMA and T. KOWDO,Pharm. Res. 4 (1987) 62–65.
D. C. TUNC, M. W. ROHOVSKY, W. B. LEHMAN, A. STRONGWATER and K. FUMMER, in Proceedings 31st Annual ORS, Las Vegas, 1985, p. 165.
K. JAMSHIDI, S. H. HYON, T. NAKAMURA, O. Y. IKADA, Y. SHIMITZU and T. TERAMATSU, in “Biological and biomechanical performance of biomaterials”, edited by P. Christel, A. Meunier and A. J. C. Lee (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1986) pp. 227–232.
T. M. TSAKALA, J. GILLAND, M. ROLAND, F. CHABOT and M. VERT,J. Control. Rel. 5 (1988) 233.
Y. TABATA, PhD thesis, Kyoto University (1987) p. 97.
A. M. REED and D. K. GILDING,Polymer 22 (1981) 494–498.
E. W. FISCHER, M. J. STERZER and G. WEGNER, ibid.252 (1973) 980.
J. W. LEENSLAG, A. J. PENNINGS, R. R. M. BOS, F. R. ROZEMA and G. BOERING,Biomaterials 8 (1987) 311–314.
SU MING LI, H. GARREAU and M. VERT,J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. in Med. 1 (1990) 123.
B. TREMILLON, “Les résines échangeuses d'ions et leurs applications” (Gauthier-Villard, Paris, 1965).
G. E. VISSHER, R. L. ROBINSON, H. V. MAULDING, J. W. FONG, J. E. PARSIN and G. J. ARGENTIERI,J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 19 (1985) 349–365.
R. A. KENLEY, M. O. LEE, T. R. MAHONEY, II and L. M. SANDERS,Macromolecules 20 (1999) 2398–2403.
S. H. HYON, K. JAMSHIDI and Y. IKADA, in “Polymers as biomaterials”, edited by S. W. Shalaby, A. S. Hoffman, B. D. Ratner and T. A. Horbett (Plenum Press, New York, 1984) pp. 51–65.
C. P. SHARMA and D. F. WILLIAMS,Engng Med. 10 (1981) 8–10.
A. BROWNING and C. C. CHU,J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 20 (1986) 613–632.
U. SIEMAN,Thermochim. Acta 85 (1985) 513–516.
K. MAKINO, H. OHSIMA and T. KONDO,J. Microencapsulation 3 (1986) 203–212.
J. LERAY, M. VERT and D. BLANQUAERT, “Nouveau matériau de prothèse osseuse et son applicaton”, French Patent 76 28 163, September (1976).
D. L. WISE, J. B. GREGORY, M. P. NEWBERNE, L. C. BARTHOLOW and J. STANBURY, in “Polymeric delivery systems”, edited by R. J. Kostelnik, “Midland Macromolecule Monograph”, Vol. 5 (Gordon and Breach, New York, 1978) pp. 121–138.
H. V. MAULDING, T. R. TICE, D. R. COWSAR, J. W. FONG, D. E. PARSON and J. P. NAZARENO,J. Control. Rel. 3 (1986) 103–117.
C. G. PITT and Z. W. GU,J. Control. Rel. 4 (1987) 283–292.
N. D. MILLER and D. F. WILLIAMS,Biomaterials 5 (1984) 365–368.
D. K. GILDING, A. M. REED and S. A. BASKETT, ibid.1 (1980) 145–148.
L. M. SANDERS, L. S. KENT, G. I. MCRAE, B. H. VICKERU, T. R. TICE and D. H. LEWIS,J. Pharm. Sci. 73 (1981) 1294–1299.
P. HOLMES,Phys. Technol. 16 (1985) 32–36.
S. J. HOLLAND, A. JOLLY, M. YASIN and B. J. TIGHE,Biomaterials 8 (1985) 289–295.
D. F. WILLIAMS and N. D. MILLER, in “Biomaterials and clinical applications”, edited by A. Pizzoferrato, P. G. Marchetti, A. Ravaglioli and A. J. C. Lee (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1987) pp. 471–476.
P. HELEVIRTA, J. LAIHO, J. KILPIKARI, S. VAINIONPÄÄ, P. ROKKANEN and P. TÖRMÄLÄ, in “Biomaterials and clinical applications”, edited by A. Pizzoferrato, P. G. Marchetti, A. Ravaglioli and A. J. C. Lee (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1987) pp. 299–304.
R. W. LENZ and M. VERT, “Malic acid polymers”, US Patent 4265247, May (1981) and Patent 4320753, March (1982).
C. BRAUD, C. BUNEL and M. VERT,Polym. Bull. 13 (1985) 293–299.
P. CHRISTEL, A. de ROCQENCOURT and M. VERT, Unpublished work.
Ph. GUERIN, J. FRANCILLETTE, C. BRAUD and M. VERT,Macromol. Chem. Macromol. Symp. 6 (1986) 305–311.
S. C. ARNOLD and R. W. LENZ, ibid.6 (1986) 285–303.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vert, M., Li, S.M., Spenlehauer, G. et al. Bioresorbability and biocompatibility of aliphatic polyesters. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 3, 432–446 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00701240
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00701240