Plastics Used in Medical Devices

Lactic acid can be made by fermentation of sugars obtained from renewable resources such as sugarcane or corn starch.

“Lactic acid can be made by fermentation of sugars obtained from renewable resources as such sugarcane or corn starch [4].”

PLA is easily processable on standard plastic equipment to yield molded parts, film, or fibers.

“It is easily processable on standard plastic equipment to yield molded parts, film, or fibers [4,5].”

For radiation sterilization of bioresorbable polymers, temperature and dose conditions need to be closely controlled to avoid chain scission and significant degradation.

“For radiation sterilization of bioresorbable polymers, temperature and dose conditions need to be closely controlled to avoid chain scission and significant degradation.”

PLLA at 129 °C for 60 s resulted in minimal change in tensile properties of the tested PLLA, but resulted in a significant decrease in the Mw, which would affect the degradation kinetics of the polymer.

“For example, PLLA at 129 °C for 60 s resulted in minimal change in tensile properties of the tested PLLA.However, this method resulted in a significant decrease in the Mw, which would affect the degradation kinetics of the polymer [4].”

PLA and PLGA implants are susceptible to hydrolysis and their deformation at higher temperatures precludes the use of these sterilization methods.

“PLA and PLGA implants are susceptible to hydrolysis and their deformation at higher temperatures therefore precludes the use of these sterilization methods.”

Gamma sterilization at dry ice temperatures is more preferred.

“Gamma sterilization at dry ice temperatures is more preferred [4].”