[Study on relationship of biodegradable properties of PGLA film in vivo and in vitro].

This experimental study on the biodegradable properties of poly(glycolide-co-lactide)[PGLA] film in vivo and in vitro was aimed to investigate the relationship between in vivo degradation process and in vitro degradation process. First, PGLA film was cut to 1 cm x 1 cm in size. It was put into artificial saliva and PBS solution respectively in vitro, and was implanted into subcutaneous tissue in Wistar rat in vivo. Then the mass loss rate was calculated every week not only for sample in vitro but also in vivo. The molecular weight was measured every two weeks. The results showed that the degradable speed of PGLA was faster in artificial saliva than in PBS solution. The change of molecular weight was earlier than that of mass loss rate. The degradable period in vitro was about 9-10 weeks. The degradable period in vivo was about 8 weeks. The rate of in vivo degradation was 1.33 times faster than that of in vitro. In conclusion, the degradation of PGLA in vitro was mainly a chemical degradation process achieved by hydrolysis of ester bond. The degradation of PGLA in vivo would be affected by stress and by biological factors, thus the degradation process was apparently faster in vivo, but both accorded with the degradation kinetics model of aliphatic polyester. There was some relationship of biodegradation between in vitro and in vivo.