In vivo degradation behavior of PDC multiblock copolymers containing poly(para-dioxanone) hard segments and crystallizable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) switching segments

The degradation behavior of biodegradable multiblock copolymers (PDC) containing poly( p -dioxanone) hard segments (PPDO) and crystallizable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) switching segments (PCL) synthesized via co-condensation of two oligomeric macrodiols with an aliphatic diisocyanate as junction unit was explored in in vivo and in vitro experiments. The in vitro experiments for enzymatic degradation resulted that the poly(epsilon-caprolactone) segments are degraded faster, than the poly(p-dioxanone) segments. During degradation the outer layer of the test specimen becomes porous. Finally non-soluble degradation products in form of particles were found at the surface. This observation is in good agreement with the in vivo studies, where the non-soluble degradation products in the periimplantary tissues showed a diameter of 1 – 3 micron.