Required Properties
Biodegradable polymers should be 1) non-toxic, 2) capable of maintaining good mechanical integrity until degraded, and 3) capable of controlled rates of degradation. A goal is not to illicit the immune response, and the products of degradation also need to be non-toxic. With regard to controlled degradation, is it possible to trigger degradation?
A goal is to control the rate at which water can get into polymers. Factors controlling the rate of degradation include: 1) percent crystallinity, 2) molecular weight, 3) hydrophobicity. The degradation rate depends on the location in the body. The environment surrounding the polymer is different depending on the location in the body
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