Degradation and drug‐release studies of a poly(glycolide‐co‐trimethylene carbonate) copolymer (Maxon)

Abstract

Poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate) is available commercially as a monofilament suture known as Maxon. The literature has shown that Maxon sutures possess a slow degradation rate of about 7 months and exhibit relatively high mechanical strength in comparison with other absorbable sutures. However, very few articles are available on the degradation of unoriented Maxon. This study was designed to explore the chemical and physical aspects of the degradation of unoriented Maxon and its potential as a drug-release device. Several analytical techniques were used, including mass measurements, simultaneous small-angle X-ray scattering and wide-angle X-ray scattering, and thermoporometry. Magnetic resonance imaging and drug-release measurements were carried out with UV spectroscopy. The results suggest that unoriented suture-based Maxon undergoes multiple stages of hydrolytic degradation, which involve hydration, and active and postactive periods. The drug-release mechanism is controlled by diffusion in the early degradation stages and polymer erosion in the later stages of release. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 475-486, 2005

Manipulation of the drug‐release behavior of poly(glycolide‐co‐trimethylene carbonate)

“…Suture‐based Maxon, which is the material used in the present study, offers a much slower biodegradation rate (180–210 days) and is softer than PGA, allowing monofilament fibers to be fabricated. Moreover, the material is sterile, inert, and noncollagenous, has a high initial tensile strength, and offers greater knot security than polydioxanone, polyglactin, and polyglycolide …”

“…The hydrolytic degradation of Maxon has been extensively studied, revealing a three‐stage mechanism . In the initial stage (inactive period), the polymer shows minimal water hydration and mass loss.…”

Influence of pH on Morphology and Structure during Hydrolytic Degradation of the Segmented GL-b-[GL-co-TMC-co-CL]-b-GL Copolymer

“…MaxonTM (Syneture) was one of the former monofilament synthetic suture based in glycolide that has been developed [7]. Therefore, detailed studies concerning synthesis, degradation, properties, and crystallization have been performed on such copolymers as model materials for suture applications [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Influence of degradation on the crystallization behaviour of a biodegradable segmented copolymer constituted by glycolide and trimethylene carbonate units

“…It is prepared by ring-opening copolymerization of glycolide (Gl) and trimethylene carbonate (Tmc) units, which is performed in two steps to obtain a segmented copolymer [6,7]. The final composition is close to a 67.5 weight percentage of glycolide.…”