Biodegradable Polyesters: Approaches to Increase Degradation Rates for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The rate of biodegradation of polyesters is essential to their utility in biomedical applications but is frequently undesirably slow, prompting significant interest in overcoming this limitation. Herein, we highlight passive, enzyme-mediated, and load-mediated mechanisms of the hydrolytic degradation of polyesters. Exemplified by recent reports, strategies to impart accelerated rates of degradation are discussed, including synthetic routes, 3D systems, and processing methods. Approaches to assess polyester degradation in vitro and in vivo are summarized, underscoring the need for careful consideration of testing parameters and the challenges arising from testing variability employed within the reported literature. Recent reports also highlight faster-degrading polyester systems for targeted biomedical applications, including regenerative engineering, drug delivery, women's health, and other medical devices. Overall, polyesters with accelerated rates of degradation will afford tremendous opportunities in bioresorbable devices and therapeutics.

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(a) Schematic of polyester hydrolytic degradation mechanisms that occur in vivo: passive, enzyme-mediated, and load-mediated. (b) Schematic of surface and bulk erosion processes that occur with hydrolytic degradation.

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Various approaches alter the rate of polyester degradation.

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General methods for assessing polymer degradation in vitro and in vivo.

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Utility of biodegradable polyesters in various biomedical applications.