Degradation Phenomena on Polymeric Biomaterials

I. Evaluation of Degradation in Vitro: Physical, Chemical and Biological Test Methods.- 1. Testing of PUR-Biomaterials for Enzymatically Induced Degradation: An in Vitro Study.- 2. Chemical Alteration of Biomer(TM) as a Result of Oxidative Degradation.- 3. In Vitro Degradation Test for Screening of Biomaterials.- II. Degradation Phenomena of "Non-Degradable" Biomaterials.- 4. The Biodegradation of Nondegradable Polymers.- 5. A Comparison of in Vivo Degradation of Novel Polyurethanes with Performance in in Vitro Accelerated Tests.- III. The Resorbable Biomaterials and Their DegradaTion Mechanisms.- 6. Accelerated Degradation Test on Resorbable Polymers.- 7. Kinetics of Resorption of Different Suture Materials Depending on the Implantation Site and the Speeles.- IV. The Inflüence of Polymer Modification And Processing Parameters On Degradation.- 8. Tissue Response to Resorbable Synthetic Polymers.- 9. In Vitro Degradation of Polylactides Depending on Different Solution Processes.- 10. Tissue Response to Pre-Degraded Poly(L-Lactide).- V. Clinical Application Of Resorbable BiomateRials: Sutures.- 11. Modern Absorbable Suture Materials and Biodegradable Anastomotic Rings in Gastrointestinal Surgery.- 12. A Novel Bioabsorbable Monofilament Surgical Suture made from (?-Caprolactone-L-Lactide) Copolymer.- VI. Clinical Application of Resorbable Biomaterials In Reconstrüctive Surgery.- 13. Clinical Application of Resorbable Biomaterials in Reconstructive Surgery.- 14. Biodegradable PLA Versus Stainless Steel Intramedullary Devices for Fracture Fixation. A Comparative Histological Study.- Round Table Discussion At The End Of The Conference.- Keywords.- Author Index.- Acknowledgement.

These proceedings contain the papers and discussions presented at the conference on "Degradation Phenomena on Polymeric Biomaterials". The constraints of the degradation behavior of polymers in a biological environment, i.e. in the human body, are presented, from the manufacturing processes to differents species and implantation sites.