Model of the Destruction of Bioresorbable Polymers in Aqueous Media

The destruction of porous matrix polylactoglycolide (PLG) structures with different ratios of lactic and glycolic acids is experimentally studied in phosphate buffer saline. A mathematical model of this destruction that takes into account both the heterogeneous and autocatalytic hydrolysis of PLG as well as diffusion of their oligomers in the buffer solution and polymer free volume is developed. Gel-penetrating chromatography is used to analyze changes in the weight-average molecular weight of specimens studied and to determine the kinetic parameters of this process.