Controllable degradation product migration from cross-linked biomedical polyester-ethers through predetermined alterations in copolymer composition

Uniformly degrading biomaterials with adjustable degradation product migration rates were customized by combining the advantages of cross-linked poly(epsilon-caprolactone) with the hydrophilic character of poly(1,5-dioxepan-2-one). Hydrolytic degradation of these random cross-linked networks using 2,2'-bis-(epsilon-caprolactone-4-yl) propane (BCP) as the cross-linking agent was studied for up to 546 days in phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. The hydrophilicity of the materials was altered by varying the copolymer compositions. After different hydrolysis times the materials were characterized, and the degradation products were extracted from the buffer solution and analyzed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to observe the changes taking place during the hydrolysis. From the results it was concluded that degradation profiles and migration of degradation products are controllable by tailoring the hydrophilicity of cross-linked polyester-ether networks.