In Vitro Degradation of Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) Foams Processed with Supercritical Fluids

In the present study, we evaluated the degradation behavior of poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) before and after foaming with supercritical CO2. Initial polymer samples, shaped as tablets, and foamed samples were immersed in a Sorensen buffer solution and maintained for 10 weeks at a constant temperature of 37 degrees C under mild stirring (50 rpm). The pH of the degradation environment was monitored, and the mass and structure modifications suffered by the samples at various stages of the study were determined. A comparison was performed between the in vitro behaviors of the PLGA samples before and after supercritical fluid processing. It was observed that the PLGA foams degrade slower than the PLGA tablets. These data are essential for evaluating the suitability of various processing methods in the design of biodegradable medical devices or implants with well-defined requirements regarding their stability and mechanical properties during specific applications.